〜ほど〜ない — Not as much as the other | JLPT N4 grammar

Meaning

Shows that one item or state does not reach the degree of another.

Formation

N1は + N2ほど + a negative predicate: 今日は昨日ほど寒くありません
Nothing is as … as N2: N2ほど + adjective + N + はありません／いません: 母の料理ほどおいしいものはありません

When to use it

Core use: Not as much as the other

Examples

20 sentences

今日きょうは昨日きのうほど寒くさむくありません
Today is not as cold as yesterday.
この町まちは東京とうきょうほど人ひとが多くおおくないです
This town does not have as many people as Tokyo.
うちの猫ねこほどかわいい猫ねこはいません
No cat is as cute as ours.
普通電車ふつうでんしゃは新幹線しんかんせんほど速くはやくありません
A local train is not as fast as the Shinkansen.
一年いちねんの中なかで春はるほど気持ちきもちのいい季節きせつはありません
No season is as pleasant as spring.
この山やまは富士山ふじさんほど高くたかくありません
This mountain is not as high as Mount Fuji.
弟おとうとは兄あにほど速くはやく走れはしれません
My younger brother cannot run as fast as my older brother.
この町まちの夜よるは都会とかいほど明るくあかるくないです
This town is not as bright at night as a big city.

12 more examples

実際じっさいの海うみは写真しゃしんほど青くあおくありませんでした
The actual sea was not as blue as in the picture.
母ははの料理りょうりほどおいしいものはありません
Nothing tastes as good as my mother's cooking.
タクシーはバスほど安くやすくないです
A taxi is not as cheap as a bus.
古いふるい靴くつは新しいあたらしい靴くつほど軽くかるくないです
The old footwear is not as light as the new footwear.
朝あさは昼ひるほど暑くあつくないです
The morning is not as hot as the afternoon.
青いあおいかばんは赤いあかいかばんほど高くたかくないです
The blue bag is not as expensive as the red bag.
この問題もんだいは昨日きのうの問題もんだいほど難しくむずかしくないです
This problem is not as difficult as yesterday's problem.
廊下ろうかは教室きょうしつほど暖かくあたたかくないです
The corridor is not as warm as the classroom.
電車でんしゃは飛行機ひこうきほど速くはやくないです
A train is not as fast as a plane.
短いみじかい小説しょうせつは長いながい小説しょうせつほど面白くおもしろくないです
The short novel is not as interesting as the long novel.
川かわは海うみほど広くひろくないです
The river is not as wide as the sea.
姉あねは兄あにほど背せが高くたかくないです
My older sister is not as tall as my older brother.

Important notes

AはBほど…ない denies that A reaches B's degree.

Common mistakes

Keep the negative predicate: 東京ほど寒くない means not as cold as Tokyo.

Check yourself

Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.

Sentence 1: 実際じっさいの海うみは写真しゃしんほど青くあおくありませんでした The actual sea was not as blue as in the picture.There is only milk in the refrigerator.This bag is too expensive.
Sentence 2: この問題もんだいは昨日きのうの問題もんだいほど難しくむずかしくないです You can only use cash at this shop.This problem is not as difficult as yesterday's problem.This problem is too difficult.
Sentence 3: 姉あねは兄あにほど背せが高くたかくないです This room is too quiet and feels a little scary.My older sister is not as tall as my older brother.I only have Sunday off.

Similar grammar

Hear it in podcasts

The pattern appears in these episodes. They open in the app with the transcript and translation.

生まれた町の駅前N4 · 3 min 2 s