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In reading this question, it's occurred to me that I don't know the difference between the following constructions:

自転車に乗るのは思ったより易しくない
自転車に乗るのは思ったほど易しくない

Is the difference really just as the literal translation suggests? That より is "not as easy" and ほど is "not easy to the extent" (but potentially still easy)?

Chocolate
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Riolku
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  • Here's a relevant Japanese article you should read: [比較の「より」と「ほど」の違い](https://nihongonosensei.net/?p=7504) – Jimmy Yang Jan 30 '22 at 06:56

1 Answers1

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～より～ない is just comparing two things and showing their relationship. We can't tell to what extent they are. 自転車に乗るのは思ったより易しくない: The speaker tried to ride a bike, and it was simply more difficult than they expected. Not sure if they could or not.

～ほど～ない is also comparing two but also implying its extent. 自転車に乗るのは思ったほど易しくない: The speaker could have ridden a bike, though that was a bit more tricky than they thought.

Usually, ～より～ is used with a positive form of a word, so this time 思ったより難しい is more natural. ～ほど～ can only be used with a negative form.

Daigo
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