N1 Degree and Emphasis

~にもほどがある: meaning, usage and examples

~にもほどがある means: too... / ...has its limits / to an unacceptable degree.

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 冗談じょうだんにもほどがある。そんなことで笑わらえない。

   That's going too far for a joke. I can't laugh at that.

2. 非常識ひじょうしきにもほどがある。

   That shows a shocking lack of common sense.

3. コーヒー一杯いっぱいが二に千せん円えんとは、高たかいにもほどがある。

   Two thousand yen for one cup of coffee is way too expensive.

4. 誰だれにも相談そうだんせずに決きめるなんて、勝手かってにもほどがある。

   Deciding without asking anyone is way out of line.

When to use it

A sharp criticism meaning "there is a limit to it" or "this is going way too far". The speaker is shocked or angry at how extreme something is. Example: 人ひとをからかうにもほどがある (Teasing people only goes so far). Common with 冗談じょうだん, 勝手かって, 非常識ひじょうしき, 失礼しつれい, and adjectives like 高たかい or ひどい.

Nuance

Spoken and emotional, a direct rebuke. Always negative and judgmental, usually about another person's behavior or a situation. It can sound harsh, so it is rare in polite business speech toward superiors.

Compare

～すぎる states excess neutrally: 高たかすぎる. ～極きわまりない is formal criticism: 失礼しつれい極きわまりない. ～にもほどがある is a spoken scolding: 失礼しつれいにもほどがある (That is outrageously rude). ～もいいところだ is a similar sarcastic rebuke: 迷惑めいわくもいいところだ (a real nuisance).

Tip: Read it as "Even X has its limits!" That shows why it always carries anger or disbelief.