さほど

• 読み: さほど
• ローマ字: sahodo
• 漢字の分解: 然 (sa/zen) — so, thus; 程 (hodo/tei) — degree, extent
• 発音: /sa.ho.do/

意味

(Not) so much; (not) particularly; (not) very. Used with negative forms to indicate something is less than expected.

An adverb almost always paired with a negative predicate to express 'not to that degree.' Similar to そんなに or それほど but carries a slightly more literary or composed tone. Occasionally written in kanji as 然程, though the hiragana form is far more common in modern usage.

例文

1. 今日の試験はさほど難しくなかった。
2. 心配していたが、さほど痛くはなかった。
3. この料理は見た目ほど辛くなく、さほど味も濃くない。

使い方ガイド

場面: writing, formal speech, evaluation

トーン: restrained

起源と歴史

From 然 (sa, meaning 'so, thus') combined with 程 (hodo, meaning 'degree, extent'). Literally 'to that degree,' used in negative constructions to convey 'not to that extent.'

文化的背景

時代: Pre-modern

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal