“〜ni mo hodo ga aru”: There's a Limit to 〜 / That's Going Too Far [JLPT N1]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

A criticism of an excessive state

「冗談にも程がある！」 — there's a limit to jokes; that's too much

When someone's words or acts go too far, one phrase expresses the incredulity and displeasure — 「冗談にも程がある！ (there's a limit to joking!).」 「〜にも程がある」 = there's a limit (to everything); that's too much. It carries clear reproach, displeasure, used to censure someone for overdoing something past the tolerable line. This guide clarifies its core of “sense-of-limit ＋ reproach,” its attachment (non-て/た-form), and separating it from the neutral 「すぎる.」

Core: everything has a limit; that's too much (reproach)

「noun／verb dictionary form／adjective ＋ にも程がある」 means “there's a limit (to everything), ～ should have some moderation, that's too much of you” — the speaker deems the other's act (lying, joking, selfishness, shamelessness…) overdone, past the tolerable line, thereby expressing strong displeasure and incredulity (know when to stop):

• 嘘をつくにも程がある、よくそんな作り話を (there's a limit to lying — how do you invent such tales).
• 失礼にも程がある、初対面の人になんて口を (there's a limit to rudeness — what a way to speak to someone you just met).
• 自分勝手にも程がある、少しは周りを考えろ (there's a limit to selfishness — think of others a little).

Feel: the core is “everything has a limit (程 = limit, moderation); you've already crossed it,” with clear reproach, displeasure, incredulity. Strong in tone, mostly for censuring someone's excessive words or acts, common in colloquial complaint, scolding. In English: “there's a limit to ～, ～ should have moderation, that's too much, that's outrageous.”

Attachment & forms

Examples in use

• ふざけるにも程がある。今は真剣な話をしているんだ。(There's a limit to fooling around. We're talking seriously now.)
• 図々しいにも程がある。人の家で勝手に冷蔵庫を開けるとは。(There's a limit to nerve — opening the fridge in someone's house uninvited.)
• 世間知らずにも程がある。それくらい常識だろう。(There's a limit to being out of touch — that much is common sense.)
• 心配性にも程があるよ。少しは落ち着いて。(You worry way too much. Calm down a little.)
• 人をからかうにも程がある。彼は本気で傷ついているんだ。(There's a limit to teasing. He's genuinely hurt.)

⚠️ Easy traps to avoid

① The core is ‘sense-of-limit ＋ reproach,' strong in tone, not a neutral ‘too ～.' This is 「にも程がある」's key feel. It's not a neutral statement “too ～, excessive,” but carries clear, strong reproach, displeasure, incredulity — “(everything has a limit,) you've already gone too far, this is outrageous — know when to stop.” It's mostly for censuring someone's excessive words or acts (lying, joking, selfishness, shamelessness, rudeness), with complaint, scolding: 冗談にも程がある (there's a limit to joking — rebuking overdone jokes). Test: to say with reproach, displeasure “(everything has a limit,) that's too much of you!” → にも程がある; to just neutrally describe “too ～, excessive” → use すぎる.

② Attachment: noun／verb dictionary form／adjective (non-て, non-た-form). In attachment, 「にも程がある」 precedes a noun (冗談にも程がある), a verb dictionary form (嘘をつくにも程がある), or an adjective (失礼にも程がある, 図々しいにも程がある). ⚠️It doesn't take the て-form or た-form — not 「嘘をついてにも程がある」「嘘をついたにも程がある.」 Test: use a noun, dictionary form, or adjective (plain), not て-form／た-form.

③ Separate it from 「すぎる」 — にも程がある carries reproach, すぎる is neutral. Both express “excess,” but worlds apart in tone. 「〜にも程がある」 = there's a limit, that's too much (strong reproach, displeasure, incredulity): 親切にも程がある (there's a limit to kindness — with the reproach or incredulity “your kindness overdone is actually a nuisance”). It's specifically for scolding, complaining about the other's excess. 「〜すぎる」 = too ～, excessively ～ (neutrally expressing degree exceeding, see 〈すぎる〉): 親切すぎる (too kind — neutral, even possibly praise). It just neutrally states “degree overdone,” positive or negative. Difference: 「にも程がある」 carries strong reproach, displeasure (that's too much of you!); 「すぎる」 neutrally expresses excess (too ～, positive or negative, see 〈すぎる〉). Test: to scold, complain “(there should be a limit,) that's too much!” → にも程がある; to just neutrally say “too ～, excessive” → すぎる. So 「優しすぎる」 can be praise (too nice a person), but 「優しいにも程がある」 carries the reproach, incredulity “you're too much of a pushover.”

🔄 Nuance & comparison: にも程がある／すぎる／というものだ／もほどほどに

💡 Learning tip

「〜にも程がある」 = there's a limit (to everything); that's too much — three points: ① the core is “sense-of-limit ＋ reproach” — strong in tone, with clear displeasure, incredulity, specifically for rebuking someone's excessive words or acts (lying, joking, selfishness, shamelessness); ② attachment is noun／dictionary form／adjective (non-て, non-た-form); ③ separate it from 「すぎる (neutral excess, positive or negative, see 〈すぎる〉)」 — にも程がある carries strong reproach. This is a handy rebuke line — 「冗談にも程がある！」「嘘をつくにも程がある！」 render that incredulous, displeased “everything has a limit, you've gone too far” sharply and aptly. To neutrally say “too ～” use 「すぎる」; but to scold with anger and incredulity “that's too much of you!,” 「にも程がある」 has the force.

❓ Quick FAQ

Q: What's the difference between 「冗談にも程がある」 and 「冗談がすぎる」?

Close in meaning (both say the joke went too far), differing in ‘strength of reproach, emotion.' 「〜にも程がある」 = there's a limit, that's too much (strong reproach, displeasure, incredulity): 「冗談にも程がある」 is very strong in tone, with clear scolding, anger, incredulity — “(there's a limit to joking,) your joke went too far, it's outrageous — know when to stop!,” a strong censure of the other's excess. It often stands alone as a rebuke (〜にも程がある！). 「〜がすぎる／〜すぎる」 = too ～, excessively ～ (neutrally expressing degree exceeding, see 〈すぎる〉): 「冗談がすぎる」 can also mean “the joke went too far,” but its tone is flatter, more neutral, just stating “the degree exceeded,” lighter on reproach than 「にも程がある」: その冗談は少しすぎるんじゃない? (isn't that joke a bit too much? — milder). Difference: 「にも程がある」 strong reproach, displeasure (with anger, incredulity, a rebuke); 「すぎる」 more neutral, mild (just stating excess, see 〈すぎる〉). Test: to strongly scold, complain “that's too much of you!” → にも程がある; to just more neutrally, mildly say “too ～, overdone” → すぎる. So use 「にも程がある」 to angrily scold, and 「すぎる」 or 「ほどほどに (in moderation)」 to remind more mildly.

Q: What can precede 「にも程がある」? Can I say 「嘘をついたにも程がある」?

No — it can't take the た-form. 「にも程がある」 precedes a noun／verb dictionary form／adjective, not the て-form or た-form. The correct attachments are three: ① noun ＋ にも程がある: 冗談にも程がある, 嘘にも程がある, わがままにも程がある. ② verb dictionary form ＋ にも程がある: 嘘をつくにも程がある (○, dictionary form 「つく」), ふざけるにも程がある, 人をからかうにも程がある. ③ adjective ＋ にも程がある: 失礼にも程がある, 図々しいにも程がある, しつこいにも程がある. ⚠️Wrong: ×嘘をついてにも程がある (no て-form), ×嘘をついたにも程がある (no た-form). So “there's a limit to lying” uses the dictionary form 「嘘をつくにも程がある,」 not 「ついた.」 Test: before 「にも程がある」 use a noun, verb dictionary form, or adjective (plain), remembering verbs take the dictionary form (する, つく, ふざける), not て-form／た-form.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「嘘をつく___。もう信用できない。」(lying is going too far)

(A) にも程がある　(B) に越したことはない　(C) ではない　(D) かのようだ

Q2. 「にも程がある」の語感は?

(A) Reproach: there's a limit / this is too much

(B) Praise

(C) Gratitude

(D) A neutral statement

Q3. 「冗談にも程がある」の意味は?

(A) This joke goes too far

(B) The joke is fun

(C) Not joking

(D) Likes joking

Q4. 「にも程がある」の前に来られるのは?

(A) Nouns, verb dictionary form, adjectives

(B) Only the て-form

(C) Only the た-form

(D) Only interrogatives

Q5. 接法が正しいのは?

(A) ふざけるにも程がある。　(B) ふざけてにも程がある。

(C) ふざけたにも程がある。　(D) ふざけにも程がある。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) にも程がある ── Lying goes too far.

2. (A) ── Reproach: there should be a limit.

3. (A) ── The joke goes too far.

4. (A) ── Nouns / dictionary form / adjectives are all possible.

5. (A) ── 「ふざけるにも程がある」(dictionary form) is correct.