倍数の言い方(twice as big)Twice as Big: Talking in Multiples
比較 / Comparison
「2倍大きい」は twice as big as ...。倍数は as ... as の枠の前に置きます: three times as big(3倍)、half as big(半分)。3倍以上は three times bigger という比較級版も現代では普通です。ただし twice と half は比較級と組みません(× twice bigger)——落とし穴はここだけです。
"Twice the size" is twice as big as … Multiples stand in front of the as … as frame: three times as big, half as big. From three up, the comparative version — three times bigger — is also fully current. The one trap: twice and half refuse the comparative (no "twice bigger").
倍数は枠の前に立つ
Multiples Stand Before the Frame
同等比較の枠 as big as(同じ大きさ)に倍率レンズを取り付ける、と考えてください。twice as big as mine(私のの2倍)、ten times as fast(10倍速い)、half as expensive(半額程度)。名詞版もあり、twice the size of ... / half the price of ... のように the +名詞で言うと引き締まります。
Think of the equality frame as big as as a camera, and the multiple as a zoom lens mounted in front: twice as big as mine, ten times as fast, half as expensive. There's a noun version too — twice the size of, half the price of — compact and crisp.
倍率レンズの実戦The zoom lens at work
Theなぜ the なのか【その場で一つに決まる】話し手と聞き手のいる状況で、どれを指すか一つに決まるから the。日本語なら「(例の)」「うちの」を補って読むと感覚が近い。 new store is twice as big as theなぜ the なのか【the one / the + 形容詞で「〜のほう」】前に出た名詞をくり返さずに the old one のように受ける形。 old one.
新しい店は前の2倍の広さだ。
基本形。twice + as ... as。The base pattern: twice + as … as.
Online tickets are half as expensive.
オンラインならチケットは半額程度だ。
半分は half as ...。Half runs the same frame.
This laptop is three times faster than my old one.
このノートPCは前のより3倍速い。
3倍以上は比較級版(times + 比較級)も普通。From three up, times + comparative is standard too.
twice as big as
2倍・半分は as ... as 枠が定位置。Twice and half live in the as … as frame.
Rent here is twice as high as in my hometown.
ここの家賃は地元の2倍だ。
three times bigger
3倍以上は比較級版もOK(意味は times as big と実用上同じ)。Three-plus multiples take the comparative too — in practice, same meaning.
The city is five times bigger than it was in 1990.
その都市は1990年の5倍の規模になった。
よくある間違い / Common Mistake
×My suitcase is twice bigger than yours.
私のスーツケースはあなたのの2倍大きい。(のつもりで)
○My suitcase is twice as big as yours.
私のスーツケースはあなたのの2倍大きい。
three times bigger は言えるのに、twice bigger だけは英語として据わりません。twice と half は as ... as 枠(または twice the size 型)専用、と覚えてください。倍数表現でつまずくのは、実はこの一点だけです。
Three times bigger works, yet twice bigger simply doesn't sit right in English. Twice and half are reserved for the as … as frame (or twice the size). Master this single point and multiples hold no other traps.
twice a week週2回頻度の twice。once / twice / three times a ... の数列で覚える。Frequency twice — in the once, twice, three times a … series.
twice the size of ...〜の2倍の大きさ名詞版の倍数。size を price・age に替えて量産できる。The noun version — swap in price or age and mass-produce.
half the price半額買い物の必須表現。at half the price(半額で)。Shopping essential: at half the price.
Think twice.よく考えて(即断するな)。「2回考えろ」=再考のすすめ。回数の twice の代表慣用。"Think two times" — reconsideration, idiomized.
まとめ / Summary
倍数は as ... as の前(three times as big as)。Multiples front the frame: three times as big as.
twice・half は as ... as 枠専用(× twice bigger)。Twice and half stay in the frame — never "twice bigger."
3倍以上は times + 比較級もOK。Three and up also take times + comparative.
減る方向は分数で(one-third as big)。Shrinking? Speak in fractions: one-third as big.