Japanese with Manga

Proportional to the degree of walking to with 〜ば〜ほど

Grammar Explanation: Proportional to with 〜ば〜ほど

Manga panel from ARIA The MASTERPIECE showing example of Proportional to the degree of walking to with 〜ば〜ほど.
ARIA The MASTERPIECE » Volume 3 » Page 96

Akari, Aika, and Alice find themselves on a treasure hunt through town, as each map they follow leads them to another map. Aika remarks how Akari is in high spirits.

灯里(あかり):
「えへへーーっ　だってさ歩(ある)けば歩(ある)くほどこの街(まち)が大好(だいす)きになる魔法(まほう)にかかっちゃうみたいでとっても楽(たの)しいんだもん」
“Ehehe, that's because the more we walk, it's like falling under the spell of loving this city. It's very enjoyable!”
Literal: “Ehehe, because if we walk, to the extent we walk, it feels like we fall under a spell that makes us love this city, so it's really fun.”

Key Points

1〜ば〜ほど expresses proportional change
  • 歩(ある)けば 歩(ある)くほど means “the more we walk…”
  • This pattern pairs a conditional form with the dictionary form to show that one thing increases with another.
2みたい softens the image
  • 魔法(まほう)にかかっちゃうみたい means “it’s like falling under a spell”.
  • みたい presents the idea as an impression or comparison, not a literal claim.

Vocabulary

(This)

この means “this” or “these” and comes directly before a noun. It points to something near the speaker or something the speaker is referring to in the conversation.

(Magic)

魔法(まほう) means magic, sorcery, or a magical spell.

(To see)

見(み)る means to see or look at something. It can also mean to examine its condition or nature.

See Also

ARIA The MASTERPIECE © its respective creators. It is used here for educational commentary.