Implicit comparison with ほど

Question

Does Japanese have a way to do an implicit comparison using ほど or より? For instance,

Since they are cold, these cookies aren't as good.

Here, we don't specify as good as what? usual? other cookies? when they are warm?

冷たいのでクッキーのほうが良くない

I see two words for "comparison" here. Good and also **cold**. Unless you're talking about absolute zero, it's a relative thing, so this also begs the question "cold compared to what?" — dungarian, Jan 29 '22 at 09:40

SpiceMan · Answer 1 · 2022-01-29T14:07:50.463

2

There's the それほど construct for implicit comparisons.

冷めているのでそれほど美味しくない

edited Jan 29 '22 at 14:07

answered Jan 28 '22 at 16:46

SpiceMan

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited Jan 30 '22 at 06:15

If you want to make an implicit comparison, you can use それほど, literally "to that extent":

[冷]{つめ}たいから・[冷]{さ}めているから、それほど[美味]{おい}しくない

"Since they are cold, they aren't delicious to that extent"

If you want to reference something specific, maybe yesterday's cookies, you can say:

[昨日]{きのう}ほど[美味]{おい}しくない

"They aren't as delicious as yesterday"

Or even:

昨日[思]{おも}ったほど、美味しくない

"They aren't as delicious as I remember"

2 Answers2