日本語のおしゃべり

Japanese Language
「Particles」

「Hodo・ほど」

「1.」Can be used to indicate an approximate amount, or approximate maximum extent; in contrast with kurai and bakari, hodo tends to stress approximate upper limit: "approximately," "about."
NOTE: Kurai and bakari may replace hodo in this usage though hodo is specifically more formal.

Examples:
来月は、一週間ほど九州へ出張します。
Raigetsu wa, isshūkan hodo Kyūshū e shutchō shimasu.
Next month I'll be going on a business trip to Kyushu for as long as a week.

今度の事故で、100人ほどの人が死んだそうです。
Kondo no jiko de, hyakunin hodo no hito ga shinda sō desu.
I hear that some 100 people died in this traffic accident.

「2.」Used to indicate a comparison (used only in negative sentences): "as...as."
NOTE: Kurai may replace hodo in this usage, though hodo is more commonly used.

Examples:
今年は享年ほど寒くないです。
Kotoshi wa kyonen hodo samuku nai desu.
This year is not as cold as last year.

あの人ほど頭のいいひとはいないでしょう。
Ano hito hodo atama no ii hito wa inai deshō.
No one has as good a head as he has.
「No one is as smart as he is.」

「3.」Used to indicate the extent of an action or condition by citing a specific example: "so...that, to the extent that."
NOTE: This usage is similar to kurai (ex. #2)

Examples:
今日は勉強ができないほど疲れた。
Kyō wa benkyō ga dekinai hodo tsukareta.
Today I'm so tired that I can't study.

試験に合格したので、うれしくて眠れないほどです。
Shiken ni gōkaku shita no de, ureshikute nemurenai hodo desu.
Since I passed the exam, I'm so happy that I can't sleep.

「4.」Used in the form V -ba + V  hodo: "the more... the more."

Examples:
北へ行けば行くほど寒くなります。
Kita e ikeba iku hodo samuku narimasu.
The further north you go, the colder it gets.

都市をとればほど、体が弱くなります。
Toshi o toreba toru hodo, karada ga yowaku narimasu.
The older you get, the weaker your body becomes.

Hope this was helpful, and see you again soon when we cover the particle bakari・ばかり！

じゃまたね！
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