Translation guide
Expresses degree or amount, often in comparisons or emphatic statements. Japanese uses various words depending on whether it's about quantity, extent, or a negative/positive emphasis.
I can't eat that much.
It's not that expensive.
Expressing that something is to a certain degree or extent, often in comparisons or when pointing to a known standard.
Common adverb meaning 'that much' or 'so much', often used in negative sentences or questions. Can also be used in positive statements when the degree is understood from context.
I can't eat that much.
It's not that difficult.
Refers to something distant from both speaker and listener, or something previously mentioned. Often used when recalling a past event or describing something not present.
Slightly more formal than そんなに. Often used in negative sentences or to downplay something.
Formal/literary equivalent of あんなに, emphasizing a high degree in the past or distant context.
Referring to a specific amount or number of things, often pointing to a quantity known from context.
Works for both degree and quantity. When used with counters or quantities, it means 'that many' or 'that much'.
Indicating that something happens to the extent that it leads to a result, often with a following clause.
Used to give a reason or result based on the degree. 'Because it's that much...'
Downplaying something, saying it's not to a great extent.
Common in negative sentences to mean 'not that much' or 'not particularly'.
Comparing two things, saying one is as much as the other.
Means 'about the same as'. Can be used with quantities or degrees.
Both mean 'that much', but そんなに is more common in casual speech, while それほど is slightly more formal and often used in writing or polite conversation. In negative sentences, they are often interchangeable.
It's not that expensive. (casual)
I didn't know you cared that much.
あんなに練習したのに、負けてしまった。
Even though I practiced that much, I lost.
それほど重要ではない。
It's not that important.
Even though I warned you that much.
I don't need that many.
I don't have that much money.
Literally 'only that much' or 'that much and no more'. Can be neutral or imply a limited amount.
That much is enough.
Refers to a large amount previously mentioned or known, often with a sense of surprise or emphasis.
You must be full after eating that much.
Since it's that hot, let's turn on the AC.
Formal version of the above.
Since it's that important an issue, we will consider it carefully.
I don't like it that much.
More casual than それほど, but same meaning in negatives.
It's not that interesting.
Always used with negatives. Means 'not very' or 'not that much'. Slightly more emphatic.
It doesn't change that much.
He eats as much as I do.
Used in comparisons to mean 'as much as'. Often in the form AはBほど〜ない (A is not as ~ as B).
I'm not as good as him.
It's not that expensive. (polite)
When referring to a number of discrete items, Japanese often uses a counter word. 'That many' can be expressed with そんなに + counter, e.g., そんなにたくさん (that many), そんなに多くの (that many). Simply using そんなに alone can be ambiguous, so context or a counter is needed.
Do you have that many books?
あんなに is often used when both speaker and listener know the extent from a shared experience. It carries a nuance of 'to that (surprising) extent'.
Even though we waited that long, they didn't come.
Is it really that much trouble?