next to

の隣に、のそばに

人や物のすぐ横で、間の距離がほとんどない位置に。

やさしい英語で： At the side of someone or something, with little space between.

• Sit next to me.
• Our house is next to the park.
• Who was standing next to you?

使い方： next to someone/something (The lamp is next to the bed.)

類義語： beside, by, alongside

よく使う表現： next to someone, next to something

と比べて

ある人や物を、別の人や物と比べて。

やさしい英語で： When you compare someone or something with another person or thing.

• I look short next to you.
• Their house seems huge next to ours.
• Next to his earlier work, this painting feels dull.

使い方： next to someone/something (My room looks tiny next to yours.)

類義語： compared with, in comparison with

よく使う表現： next to someone, next to something

に次いで、を除けば

重要さの順で、挙げた人や物のすぐ次に。

やさしい英語で： After the person or thing mentioned, when choosing or deciding what matters most.

• Next to family, health matters most.
• Next to football, tennis is his favorite sport.
• Next to my mother, you know me best.

使い方： next to someone/something (Next to her children, her work matters most to her.)

類義語： after, apart from

よく使う表現： next to family, next to health

ほとんど

完全にそうなる一歩手前。特に不可能に近いことや、ごく少ない量に使う。

やさしい英語で： Almost completely, especially when something is extremely difficult or very small.

• It costs next to nothing.
• Finding a taxi was next to impossible.
• We knew next to nothing about the problem.

類義語： almost, nearly

よく使う表現： next to nothing, next to impossible, next to useless