Japanese Equality Comparisons: Expressing 'as...as' with 〜と同じくらい and 'not as...as' with 〜ほど〜ない
Learn to say two things are equal with 〜と同じくらい and unequal with 〜ほど〜ない, including how to form these patterns with adjectives and nouns in natural elementary Japanese.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In English, you compare equal things with 'as tall as' and unequal things with 'not as tall as.' Japanese does not use a single word like 'as.' Instead, it uses two clear patterns: A は B と同じくらい〜 for 'A is about as ~ as B,' and A は B ほど〜ない for 'A is not as ~ as B.' This lesson teaches both patterns with adjectives such as 高い (takai, tall/expensive), 大きい (ookii, big), and 速い (hayai, fast). You will also learn how to compare nouns, for example 'the same age as,' and how to avoid the common mistake of using より (yori, than) in an equality sentence.
By the end, you can…
- say that two people or things are equal using 〜と同じくらい.
- say that one thing is not as ~ as another using 〜ほど〜ない.
- compare nouns such as age or height with と同じ and ほど.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
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彼女は兄と同じくらい背が高いです。
She is as tall as her brother.
Kanojo wa ani to onaji kurai se ga takai desu.
Use と同じくらい before an adjective to show equality. 背が高い (se ga takai) means 'tall' for people.
このかばんはあのかばんと同じくらい高いです。
This bag is about as expensive as that bag.
Kono kaban wa ano kaban to onaji kurai takai desu.
同じくらい can also mean 'about the same,' so it is useful for prices and sizes.
私の車はあなたの車ほど速くないです。
My car is not as fast as your car.
Watashi no kuruma wa anata no kuruma hodo hayakunai desu.
For i-adjectives, change the final い to くない: 速い → 速くない.
この部屋はあの部屋ほど静かではありません。
This room is not as quiet as that room.
Kono heya wa ano heya hodo shizuka de wa arimasen.
For na-adjectives, use ではありません after the adjective stem: 静かではありません.
私は彼と同じ年です。
I am the same age as him.
Watashi wa kare to onaji toshi desu.
For nouns, use と同じ directly without くらい: 同じ年 (same age), 同じ学校 (same school).
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Equality: A は B と同じくらい + adjective. Example: 東京は大阪と同じくらいにぎやかです (Tōkyō wa Ōsaka to onaji kurai nigiyaka desu) — 'Tokyo is about as lively as Osaka.' Inequality: A は B ほど + negative adjective. Example: 東京は大阪ほど静かではありません (Tōkyō wa Ōsaka hodo shizuka de wa arimasen) — 'Tokyo is not as quiet as Osaka.' Notice that ほど always pairs with a negative ending.
When to use it
Use と同じくらい when you want to say two things are roughly equal, not exactly identical. Use ほど〜ない when you want to say one thing is less than another. For exact sameness with nouns, use と同じ: 私の時計はあなたの時計と同じです (Watashi no tokei wa anata no tokei to onaji desu) — 'My watch is the same as yours.' Do not use より (than) in these equality patterns; より belongs to 'more than' comparisons.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
田中さんは山田さんと同じくらい背が高いですね。
Mr. Tanaka is about as tall as Mr. Yamada, isn't he?Tanaka-san wa Yamada-san to onaji kurai se ga takai desu ne.そうですね。でも、山田さんのほうが少し若いです。
Yes. But Mr. Yamada is a little younger.Sō desu ne. Demo, Yamada-san no hō ga sukoshi wakai desu.このテストはあのテストほど難しくないです。
This test is not as difficult as that test.Kono tesuto wa ano tesuto hodo muzukashikunai desu.いいですね。私はあのテストと同じくらい勉強しました。
That's good. I studied about as much as for that test.Ii desu ne. Watashi wa ano tesuto to onaji kurai benkyō shimashita.A little context goes a long way
In Japanese, ほど〜ない can sound slightly more formal or emphatic than a simple negative comparison. In casual conversation, people often soften it with そんなに (sonna ni, 'that much'): この部屋はあの部屋ほど静かじゃない (Kono heya wa ano heya hodo shizuka ja nai). The polite form ではありません is safe in classrooms and business settings, while じゃない is common among friends.
One thing to watch for
Using より (yori, 'than') in an equality sentence, as in 彼女は兄より同じくらい背が高いです。
Try this instead: Use と同じくらい for equality, not より. Correct: 彼女は兄と同じくらい背が高いです (Kanojo wa ani to onaji kurai se ga takai desu). Use より only for 'more than': 彼女は兄より背が高いです (She is taller than her brother).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Translate: 'This book is not as interesting as that book.'
Show a sample answer
この本はあの本ほど面白くないです。 (Kono hon wa ano hon hodo omoshirokunai desu.)
Use A は B ほど + negative adjective. 面白い (omoshiroi) becomes 面白くない (omoshirokunai). この本はあの本ほど面白くありません is also correct and slightly more polite.
2Translate: 'My sister is about as tall as me.'
Show a sample answer
姉は私と同じくらい背が高いです。 (Ane wa watashi to onaji kurai se ga takai desu.)
Use と同じくらい before the adjective. 私 (watashi) is the comparison point. 妹 (imōto) would mean 'younger sister,' so choose the correct family word.
3Make a sentence comparing two nouns: 'I am the same age as Ken.'
Show a sample answer
私はケンと同じ年です。 (Watashi wa Ken to onaji toshi desu.)
For nouns, use と同じ without くらい. 同じ年 (onaji toshi) means 'same age.' 私はケンと同じ年齢です (onaji nenrei desu) is also correct but more formal.
Use と同じくらい for 'as ~ as' and ほど〜ない for 'not as ~ as.' Keep より for 'more than' only, and remember that ほど always needs a negative ending.
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