何 倍(なんばい)

なんばい

noun

how many times; how many fold

1. how many times; how many fold

An interrogative expression asking about a multiple or ratio. Used to ask how many times greater, larger, or more something is compared to a reference point.

何倍(なんばい)になりましたか。

How many times has it increased?

この部屋(へや)はあの部屋(へや)の何倍(なんばい)の広(ひろ)さですか。

How many times larger is this room compared to that room?

去年(きょねん)より何倍(なんばい)も努力(どりょく)したのに結果(けっか)が出(で)なかった。

I put in many times more effort than last year, but didn't get results.

2. many times over; manifold

Used emphatically to express that something is much greater in degree or quantity, without asking a literal question.

今(いま)の幸(しあわ)せは昔(むかし)の何倍(なんばい)もある。

My happiness now is many times greater than before.

実物(じつぶつ)は写真(しゃしん)の何倍(なんばい)も美(うつく)しかった。

The real thing was many times more beautiful than in the photos.

彼(かれ)は私(わたし)の何倍(なんばい)もの経験(けいけん)を積(つ)んでいる。

He has accumulated many times more experience than I have.

Composed of 何(なん) (what; how many) and 倍(ばい) (times; fold). Used both as a genuine question and as an emphatic expression meaning "many times over."

Common collocations

何倍(なんばい)にもなる: to increase manifold
何倍(なんばい)もの努力(どりょく): many times the effort
何倍(なんばい)も大(おお)きい: many times bigger
何倍(なんばい)もの価値(かち): many times the value

Similar words

何杯(なんばい): how many cups/glasses — same pronunciation but different kanji and meaning
数倍(すうばい): several times; several fold — states a vague multiple without asking
何度(なんど): how many times (frequency) — counts occurrences, not multiples

Common patterns

Often followed by も for emphasis: 何倍(なんばい)も means "many times over." Can be followed by の to modify nouns: 何倍(なんばい)もの量(りょう) (many times the amount).

Related Words

Homophone: 何杯(なんばい) (how many cups/glasses)

Compare: 数倍(すうばい) (several times)

Compare: 何度(なんど) (how many times)

Related: 数十倍(すうじゅうばい) (tens of times)

general

Added 2026.4.8 23:15 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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