ほどに

expression

the more ... the more ...; as

Used in the pattern ～ば～ほどに to express a proportional relationship: the more one thing happens, the more another thing happens. Often interchangeable with ほど, but ほどに can sound slightly more formal or literary.

See also: ほど

• 考かんがえれば考かんがえるほどに、何なにが正ただしいのか分わからなくなる。

  The more I think about it, the less I know what is right.

• 練れん習しゅうすればするほどに、上じょう達たつが早はやくなる。

  The more you practice, the faster you improve.

expression

while; during

Archaic usage meaning 'while' or 'during'. Not used in modern Japanese; found in classical texts.

• 昔むかしの文ぶん語ごでは、「春はるのほどに」のように時ときを表あらわすのに使つかわれた。

  In classical literary language, it was used to indicate time, as in 'during spring'.

conjunction, particle

because; since

Archaic conjunction/particle meaning 'because' or 'since'. Replaced by ので, から, etc. in modern Japanese.

• 古こ典てんでは、「雨あめ降ふるほどに」のように原げん因いん・理り由ゆうを表あらわした。

  In classical Japanese, it expressed cause or reason, as in 'because it rains'.