modality N2 uncommon casualpolitewritten
〜ほどのことはない — it's not so much as to ~ / not worth ~ing
〜ほどのことはない ・ ほどのことはない
Builds on 〜ほど
Meaning
- it's not so much as to ~ / it's not worth ~ing / it's no big deal — the matter doesn't rise to the level that would justify the action or fuss
Key sentence
かすり傷だから、病院に行くほどのことはない。
It's just a scratch, so it's not worth going to the hospital.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb dictionary form | V-る + ほどのことはない（／ではない） | 騒ぐほどのことはない / 心配するほどのことはない |
When: Plays a matter down as below the threshold that would warrant the named worry or action; reassuring or dismissive in tone.
Variants
〜ほどのことではない — は↔では are interchangeable; では is a touch more emphatic/contrastive.
Examples
わざわざ謝るほどのことはないよ。
It's not such a big deal that you need to go out of your way to apologize.
一人でできる。人に頼むほどのことはない。
I can do it alone; it's not worth asking anyone.
Easily confused with
See 〜ほどのことはない in real sentences
Jengo shows 〜ほどのことはない the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar.