Translation guide
A guide to expressing 'as much as' in Japanese, covering comparisons of quantity, degree, and extent, as well as idiomatic uses like 'as much as possible' and 'not as much as'.
Expressing that two things are equal in amount, degree, or extent.
Used to say 'A is about as much as B' in terms of quantity or degree. 同じくらい means 'about the same amount/degree'.
彼は私と同じくらい食べる。
He eats as much as I do.
今日は昨日と同じくらい暑い。
Today is as hot as yesterday.
Used in negative sentences to mean 'not as much as'. In affirmative, it can mean 'as much as', but 同じくらい is more common for equality.
In affirmative sentences, ほど can sound literary or emphatic. Use 同じくらい for neutral equality.
彼は私ほど食べない。
He doesn't eat as much as I do.
Casual equivalent of 同じくらい, often used in spoken Japanese. くらい alone can mean 'about as much as'.
彼は私くらい食べるよ。
He eats about as much as I do.
Expressing the idea of doing something to the greatest extent possible.
Means 'as much as possible' or 'as ~ as possible'. Used with verbs or adjectives.
できるだけ早く来てください。
Please come as early as possible.
できるだけ多くの人に会いたい。
I want to meet as many people as possible.
Similar to できるだけ, but slightly more formal or written. Often used in requests.
Literally 'to the extent one can', more formal and emphatic than できるだけ.
できる限りの努力をします。
I will make as much effort as I can.
Expressing that something is less in quantity or degree compared to something else.
Standard way to say 'A is not as ~ as B'. ほど marks the standard of comparison in negative sentences.
日本語は中国語ほど難しくない。
Japanese is not as difficult as Chinese.
彼は兄ほど背が高くない。
He is not as tall as his older brother.
Literally 'A is not more ~ than B', but often used to mean 'not as ~ as'. Less common than ほど for this meaning.
より in negative sentences can sometimes imply 'less than' rather than 'not as much as', but context usually makes it clear.
この本はあの本より面白くない。
This book is not as interesting as that one.
Emphasizing that an amount or degree is surprisingly large or reaches a certain level.
Attached to a quantity or extent word to emphasize 'as much as' or 'as many as'. Often used with numbers.
彼は1日に10時間も勉強する。
He studies as much as 10 hours a day.
その荷物は30キロもある。
That luggage weighs as much as 30 kilograms.
Formal expression meaning 'amounts to as much as', used for large numbers or amounts.
被害額は1億円にものぼる。
The damage amounts to as much as 100 million yen.
Expressing that one can do something freely, to the extent one desires.
Means 'as much as one likes' or 'all you want'. Used with verbs.
好きなだけ食べていいよ。
You can eat as much as you like.
好きなだけここにいていいです。
You can stay here as long as you like.
Means 'to one's heart's content' or 'as much as one wants', often used for enjoying something thoroughly.
思う存分楽しんでください。
Please enjoy yourself as much as you like.
Indicating that one action or state reaches the point of causing another.
Used to mean 'so much A that B' or 'to the extent that'. Connects a degree with a result.
泣きたいほど嬉しい。
I'm so happy I could cry. (lit. happy to the extent of wanting to cry)
驚くほど簡単だった。
It was surprisingly easy. (lit. easy to the extent of being surprised)
Casual equivalent of ほど for expressing extent. Often used in spoken Japanese.
死ぬくらい疲れた。
I'm so tired I could die.
Both ほど and くらい can express extent, but ほど is more common in negative comparisons and formal contexts, while くらい is more casual and often used for approximate amounts. In affirmative extent expressions, they are often interchangeable, but ほど can sound more emphatic.
彼ほど優しい人はいない。
There is no one as kind as him.
彼くらい優しい人はいない。
There is no one as kind as him. (more casual)
English 'as much as' has many idiomatic uses that do not translate directly into Japanese. For example, 'as much as I like it' is not 好きなほど but rather 好きだけど or 好きなのに. Always consider the intended meaning before translating.
なるべく静かにしてください。
Please be as quiet as possible.