Translation guide
The English phrase "as much" has several grammatical functions. This guide covers the most common uses for learners: expressing equal quantity, emphasizing a large amount, and forming comparative structures.
To say that two amounts or degrees are the same.
Used to compare quantities or degrees, meaning 'about the same as'. Can be followed by a noun or a clause.
彼は私と同じくらい食べる。
He eats as much as I do.
この車はあの車と同じくらい速い。
This car is as fast as that one.
Attached to a noun or clause to indicate an extent or degree, often used in negative comparisons or to express 'as much as'. In affirmative sentences, it can sound literary.
彼ほど速く走れない。
I can't run as fast as him.
今日は昨日ほど暑くない。
Today is not as hot as yesterday.
Used after a verb or adjective to mean 'as much as one wants' or 'to the extent that'. Often used in set phrases like 好きなだけ (as much as you like).
好きなだけ取ってください。
Please take as much as you like.
To stress that a quantity or degree is surprisingly large or significant.
Means 'this much' or 'to this extent', emphasizing a large degree. Often used with adjectives or verbs.
これほど美しい景色は見たことがない。
I've never seen scenery as beautiful as this.
Means 'that much' or 'to that extent', referring to something previously mentioned or known.
Means 'that much' (referring to something near the listener or previously mentioned). Often used in negative sentences to mean 'not that much'.
To express doing something to the greatest extent possible.
Means 'as much as possible' or 'as ~ as one can'. Very common and versatile.
できるだけ早く来てください。
Please come as early as possible.
できるだけ多くの人に会いたい。
I want to meet as many people as possible.
Similar to できるだけ, meaning 'as much as possible' or 'if possible'. Slightly more formal.
To contrast two things, saying one is more true than the other.
Used to say 'rather than' or 'not so much... as...'. It corrects or clarifies a statement.
彼は怒っているというより、悲しんでいる。
He's not so much angry as sad.
Means 'rather' or 'instead'. Can be used in a similar contrastive structure.
これは便利というより、むしろ邪魔だ。
This is not so much convenient as it is a nuisance.
同じくらい is used for affirmative comparisons of equality, while ほど is more common in negative sentences to mean 'not as much as'. Using ほど in affirmative sentences can sound literary or emphatic.
Avoid directly translating 'as much' word-for-word. Japanese uses different structures depending on the context. For example, 'as much as I want' is 好きなだけ, not a literal translation.
I warned him as much as I did, but he was late again.
それほど難しくない。
It's not as difficult as that.
なるべく静かにしてください。
Please be as quiet as possible.