ほど

• Reading: ほど
• Romaji: hodo
• Pronunciation: /ho.do/

Meaning

Degree; extent; about; approximately. Indicates the extent or limit of something.

A highly versatile particle/noun with several key patterns: (1) approximate quantity — 三日ほど (about three days); (2) comparison — AほどBはない (B is not as much as A); (3) proportional change — 食べれば食べるほど (the more you eat, the more...); (4) degree — 泣くほど嬉しい (so happy you could cry). The kanji 程 is sometimes used but hiragana is standard.

Examples

1. 駅まで歩いて10分ほどかかります。 It takes about 10 minutes to walk to the station.
2. 東京ほど人が多い都市はありません。 There's no city as crowded as Tokyo.
3. 練習すればするほど上手になります。 The more you practice, the better you get.

Usage Guide

Context: comparisons, approximations, degree expressions

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 程 combines 禾 (ka, grain) and 呈 (tei, present/show). Originally referred to the measure or standard for grain — a unit of extent, which generalised into the abstract sense of 'degree' or 'extent.'

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal