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Formation: N + ほどではない; V-dictionary + ほどではない

It has two uses. In a comparison, AはBほどではない means A is not as X as B, and the adjective is left out because context supplies it: 今年も暑いが、去年ほどではない. With a verb, it says a situation is not serious enough to call for an action: 病院に行くほどではない. Either way, the speaker admits some degree of X but plays it down. It is neutral in register, and ほどじゃない is the spoken form. ほどでもない makes it sound even less worth mentioning. Compare 〜ことはない ('there is no need to'), which advises against an action, and 〜わけではない ('it's not that'), which corrects an assumption. ほどではない measures degree.

Variants: ほどじゃない、ほどでもない、ほどのことではない、ほどではありません

Examples

• 少し痛むが、病院に行くほどではない。
  It hurts a little, but not enough to go to hospital.
• 今年も暑いが、去年ほどではない。
  It's hot this year too, but not as hot as last year.
• 彼の英語は上手だが、プロの通訳ほどではない。
  His English is good, but not at the level of a professional interpreter.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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