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Safety is most important in the picture. Is anything else equally important? The speaker thinks there is nothing, emphasizing the highest degree.

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Lesson notes · ≈ JLPT N3 · Intermediate 3

〜ほど〜はない~ hodo ~ wa nai

nothing is as … as

Use 「〜ほど〜はない」 to say that nothing else is equally important or reassuring.

How it works

  1. Safety is most important in the picture. Is anything else equally important? The speaker thinks there is nothing, emphasizing the highest degree.

    Safety is most important in the picture. Is anything else equally important? The speaker thinks there is nothing, emphasizing the highest degree.

  2. A common pattern is “noun + ほど + …ものはない”, as in 「毎日の安全ほど重要なものはない」.

    A common pattern is “noun + ほど + …ものはない”, as in 「毎日の安全ほど重要なものはない」.

  3. 「はない」 does not mean that no important things exist. It means nothing else is equally important, highlighting the thing named before ほど.

    「はない」 does not mean that no important things exist. It means nothing else is equally important, highlighting the thing named before ほど.

  4. In the examples, 「にとって」 shows whose perspective is being expressed. “Most important” and “most reassuring” are often personal judgments.

    In the examples, 「にとって」 shows whose perspective is being expressed. “Most important” and “most reassuring” are often personal judgments.

Example sentences

高齢者こうれいしゃkoureisha
にni
とっtot
て、te、
毎日まいにちmainichi
のno
安全あんぜんanzen
ほどhodo
重要なものじゅうようなものjuuyounamono
はわwa
ないnai
とto
思います。おもいます。omoimasu。

I think for the elderly, nothing is more important than daily safety.

  • 一人ひとりhitoriでde介護かいごkaigoをo続けるつづけるtsuzukeru人ひとhitoにniとっtotて、te、周りまわりmawariのno支えささえsasaeほどhodo心強いこころづよいkokorozuyoiものmonoはわwaありません。arimasen。

    For those who continue to provide care alone, nothing is more reassuring than the support of those around them.

    • In a conversation

    • A
      おじいちゃん、介護かいごロボットろぼっとの会話かいわ機能きのうを使っつかって楽したのしそうに話しそうにはなしていますね。

      A: Grandfather looks happy talking using the care robot's conversation function.

    • B
      ええ。高齢者こうれいしゃにとって、人ひととの関わりかかわりほど大切なものたいせつなものはわないですから、嬉しいですうれしいですね。

      B: Yes. For the elderly, nothing is more important than interacting with people, so it's wonderful.

    • A
      そうですね。おじいちゃんの笑顔えがおほど私たちわたしたちを安心あんしんさせるものはわありませんね。

      A: That's right. Nothing reassures us more than grandfather's smile.

    Check yourself

    1. Level 1 · Recognise

      Which sentence is correct?

    2. Level 1 · Recognise

      Listen and choose the meaning

    3. Level 2 · Build

      Put the words in order

      For elderly people, I think nothing is more important than daily safety.

    4. Level 3 · Use

      What goes in the blank?

      高齢者にとって、毎日の安全____重要なものはないと思います。

      For older adults, I think nothing is more important than daily safety.

    More grammar in this theme

    • 〜といえばspeaking of; typical association
    • 〜というとtopic association
    • 〜べきだ／〜べきではないshould / should not
    • 〜ほど〜はないnothing is as … as
    • 〜（より）ほかない／〜（より）ほかしかたがないhave no other choice
    • 〜（っ）きり／〜（っ）きりだunchanged since then
    • 〜最中にright in the middle of
    • 〜かけだ／〜かけの／〜かけるstarted but unfinished
    • 〜ざるを得ないhave no choice but to
    • 〜を契機にas a trigger for change
    • 〜をめぐってconcerning an issue
    • 〜上のrelated to an aspect
    • 〜上from a certain perspective
    Previous〜べきだ／〜べきではないNext〜（より）ほかない／〜（より）ほかしかたがない

    Keep practising

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