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程なく (ほどなく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

ほどなく

ほ

ど

な

く

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

adverb

soon; before long; shortly thereafter

usually written using kana alone

Indicates that something happens not long after a reference point in time. Often used in narrative or slightly formal contexts.

程ほどなく雨あめが上あがった。
Soon the rain stopped.

ほど

なくし

て

彼かれ

は

戻もど

っ

て

き

た

。

Before long, he came back.

Written forms

程ほどなく
Standard kanji spelling; it is a high-priority form.
程ほど無なく
Alternate kanji spelling using 無; less common than 程なく.

Kanji

程extent, degree, law
無nothingness, none, ain't

Similar words

すぐ
すぐ is more casual and immediate; ほどなく is slightly more formal and often used in written or narrative descriptions.
まもなく
まもなく is very similar but can sound a bit more formal or polite, often used in announcements.

Etymology

Compound of 程 (hodo, 'extent, degree') + なく (naku, adverbial form of ない 'not'), literally 'not to the extent of (much time passing)'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the meaning has been conventionalized as 'soon'.