modality N1 uncommon casualwritten
〜にもほどがある — there's a limit to ~
〜にもほどがある ・ にもほどがある
Meaning
- there's a limit to ~ / ~ has gone too far — a sharp rebuke that something has exceeded acceptable bounds
Carries clear exasperation or indignation — it scolds, rather than calmly observing that something is excessive.
Key sentence
冗談にもほどがある。
There's a limit to how far a joke can go.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun, na-adjective, or verb dictionary form | N／な-adj／V-る + にもほどがある | 失礼にもほどがある / ふざけるにもほどがある |
Examples
人をばかにするにもほどがある。
There's a limit to making a fool of people.
のんきにもほどがあるよ、明日が試験なのに。
You're taking it way too easy — the exam is tomorrow.
嘘をつくにもほどがある。
There's a limit to how much you can lie.
Easily confused with
See 〜にもほどがある in real sentences
Jengo shows 〜にもほどがある the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled from published Japanese grammar references.