より

§ Basic comparison: Noun A より Noun B (Noun B is more than Noun A)

The particle より (yori) is very useful for making comparisons in Japanese. It means 'than' or 'from' in this context. The basic structure for comparing two nouns (Noun A and Noun B) is to place より after the item you are comparing *from* or the item that is *less* in the comparison. The sentence structure then indicates that Noun B possesses a certain quality to a greater degree than Noun A.

Think of it as 'compared to Noun A, Noun B is…'. It's a straightforward way to express which item has more of a certain attribute. This can be used with adjectives (both い-adjectives and な-adjectives) and verbs.

Grammar Structure

Noun A より Noun B のほうが [Adjective/Verb] です。

Let's break down this structure. Noun A is the reference point for the comparison. Noun B is the item that is 'more' or 'better' in some way. のほうが (no hou ga) literally means 'the direction of' or 'the side of' and emphasizes that Noun B is the one that possesses the quality to a higher degree. Then, you simply add the adjective or verb to describe the quality.

Translation hint: Japan is smaller than China. (Literally: Compared to China, Japan is small.)

Translation hint: Tokyo has more people than Osaka. (Literally: Compared to Osaka, Tokyo has many people.)

Translation hint: Cats are quieter than dogs. (Literally: Compared to dogs, cats are quiet.)

§ Omitting のほうが (no hou ga)

While のほうが is often used for emphasis, you can sometimes omit it, especially when the context makes the comparison clear. However, it's generally safer for beginners to include it to avoid ambiguity.

Translation hint: The bus is slower than the train. (Literally: Compared to the train, the bus is slow.)

§ Emphasizing a superlative: ～より (anything else)

When you want to say something is the *most* or *best* within a category, you can use より with a negative verb or adjective to indicate that there is nothing better. This structure creates a superlative meaning.

Grammar Structure

[Noun] より [Negative Adjective/Verb].

This literally means 'more than [Noun], there isn't [negative quality]'. The implication is that [Noun] is the most [positive quality].

Translation hint: There is no restaurant more delicious than this one. (Meaning: This is the most delicious restaurant.)

Translation hint: There is no person kinder than him. (Meaning: He is the kindest person.)

§ Indicating origin or starting point: (Time/Place) より

より can also indicate a starting point in time or space, similar to 'from'. While から (kara) is more commonly used for this, より sometimes appears in formal or written contexts, especially for official notices or fixed expressions.

Grammar Structure

[Time/Place] より [Event/Action].

This usage is less common in everyday spoken Japanese compared to its use for comparisons, but it's important to recognize it, particularly in written materials like announcements or official documents.

Translation hint: We will change our business hours starting from today. (Literally: From today, we will change business hours.)

Translation hint: We will send it directly from Sapporo.

§ Common mistakes to avoid

• Do not confuse the order in comparisons: The item with より is the one being compared *from*.
• While you can sometimes omit のほうが, it's best to include it when starting out to ensure clarity.
• For the 'from' meaning, remember that から is more common for general use.

So you've learned that より means "than" or "from." That's a great start. Now, let's look at how you'll actually hear and use this word in everyday Japanese. We'll cover situations you might encounter at work, in school, or when catching up on the news.

§ At Work: Making Comparisons and Setting Deadlines

In a professional setting, より is super useful for comparing things or stating deadlines. You'll hear it in meetings, emails, and general office conversation.

Comparing Sales Figures

When discussing performance, you might compare current numbers to previous ones.

Setting Deadlines

When a deadline is firm, より is used to emphasize the starting point of that deadline.

§ In School: Academics and Schedules

For students, より is part of daily academic life. You'll hear it in lectures, when discussing grades, or talking about class schedules.

Comparing Grades

Everyone compares grades sometimes, and より is how you do it.

Class Starting Times

Official announcements about when classes begin often use より.

§ In the News: Reports and Statements

When you're reading or watching the news, より comes up frequently. It's used for reporting on changes, origins of events, or comparisons in statistics.

Reporting on Economic Changes

News outlets use より to show how current conditions compare to previous ones.

Stating the Source of Information

When news comes from a specific source, より can mark that origin.

As you can see, より is a versatile particle. Pay attention to the context and what it's attached to. It will quickly become a natural part of your Japanese vocabulary. Keep practicing these examples, and you'll master it in no time.

§ Don't confuse より with だけ or くらい

The particle 「より」 (yori) means 'than' or 'from'. It's used for comparisons or indicating origin. However, some learners confuse it with other particles that have similar but distinct functions, like 「だけ」 (dake - only) or 「くらい/ぐらい」 (kurai/gurai - approximately/about). While 「より」 focuses on comparison or starting point, 「だけ」 restricts something to a specific amount, and 「くらい」 indicates an approximate quantity or extent. Understanding these differences is crucial for accurate communication.

Hint

Japanese is more difficult than English.

§ Using より for 'more than' without a comparison

Another common mistake is trying to use 「より」 to simply mean 'more than' in a general sense, without a clear comparative object. For instance, if you want to say 'I ate more than usual,' you wouldn't typically use 「より」 in that construction. You'd use other expressions like 「いつもより多く」 (itsumo yori ooku - more than usual) which still implies a comparison, but 「より」 alone doesn't convey 'more than' an amount.

Hint

Yesterday, I went to bed earlier than usual.

In this example, 「いつもより」 creates the comparison 'than usual'. If you just wanted to say 'more', without a comparison, you'd use something like 「もっと」 (motto).

§ Forgetting the 'from' meaning of より

While 「より」 is frequently used for comparisons, it's easy to overlook its other common meaning: 'from' when indicating origin, especially in more formal contexts or when talking about official sources or announcements. It's not as common as 「から」 (kara) for physical movement from a place, but it's important to recognize when it's used.

Hint

From [date], business hours will change.

In this case, 「より」 indicates the starting point of a change, essentially meaning 'from' that specific date. It's often seen in official announcements or written notices.

§ Overusing より in casual speech

While 「より」 is perfectly fine in many contexts, especially in written Japanese or more formal spoken Japanese, constantly using it in very casual conversation might sound a bit stiff. In casual speech, people often shorten comparisons or use other expressions. For example, instead of 「犬より猫が好きです」 (inu yori neko ga suki desu - I like cats more than dogs), a casual speaker might simply say 「猫の方が好き」 (neko no hou ga suki - I prefer cats / Cats are better), where 「のほうが」 (no hou ga) is a common way to express preference.

• 「A より B」 is a standard comparative structure.
• In casual speech, consider 「B の方が A だ」 or simply context.

It's not that using 「より」 is wrong in casual speech, but being aware of more natural-sounding alternatives will make your Japanese sound more fluent.