ほどなく

ほ

ど

な

く

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

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.

Usage patterns

程ほどなく〈動どう詞し〉soon [something happens]; before long, [verb]
電でん車しゃは程ほどなく到とう着ちゃくした。
The train arrived before long.
程ほどなく〈事こと〉が始はじまるsoon [an event] begins
式しき典てんは程ほどなく始はじまった。
The ceremony began shortly thereafter.

Expressions

ほどなくしてafter a short while; soon; before long

Kanji

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

Related words

すぐN4
すぐ is casual and can mean nearly instant, while 程なく is slightly formal and implies a short but noticeable interval before the next event.
まもなくN3
まもなく is common in announcements and polite speech, whereas 程なく has a more literary, narrative feel often found in written stories.
やがてN3
やがて suggests a somewhat longer, more gradual passage of time before an outcome, while 程なく emphasizes that the gap is brief.

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.

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'.