how much; how many; to what extent
Interrogative word asking about quantity, degree, or extent. Can be used as an adverb or noun. Slightly formal or literary compared to どのくらい or いくら.
How much time will this work take?
How much truth is there in his words, I wonder.
Standard kanji spelling for this interrogative word.
Alternate kanji spelling; 程 is a common character for extent or degree.
Compound of 何 (nani, 'what') and ほど (hodo, 'extent, degree'). The kanji 程 reinforces the meaning of extent or amount.