より (yori): Comparison Marker
Quick Answer: より marks the standard of comparison, equivalent to 'than' in English. The pattern is: B より A のほうが [adjective] = 'A is more [adj] than B.' より comes after the lesser item.
Making comparisons — 'more than' in Japanese
Category: Particles
The Rule
より marks the standard of comparison, equivalent to 'than' in English. The pattern is: B より A のほうが [adjective] = 'A is more [adj] than B.' より comes after the lesser item.
Why This Matters
Japanese comparisons work backwards from English. In English: 'A is bigger than B.' In Japanese: 'B より A のほうが 大きい' (literally: 'compared to B, A is bigger'). The item after より is the one being compared against.
Examples
• 東京は大阪より大きいです。 — "Tokyo is bigger than Osaka." [Basic comparison — Osaka is the standard (より)] • 肉より魚のほうが好きです。 — "I like fish more than meat." [Preference with のほうが — fish is preferred] • 思ったより簡単でした。 — "It was easier than I thought." [Comparing reality to expectation] • 何よりうれしいです。 — "I'm happier than anything. / Nothing makes me happier." [何より = more than anything (set phrase)]
Common Mistakes
❌ 犬は猫がより大きいです。 ✅ 犬は猫より大きいです。 → より comes directly after the comparison standard (猫). Don't insert が between the noun and より ❌ 東京はより大きいです。 ✅ 東京は大阪より大きいです。 → You need to state what you're comparing against. より requires a reference point
Quick Tip
Place より after the 'losing' item in the comparison. AはBより = 'A, compared to B, is...' If you forget のほうが, the sentence still works.
Place より after the 'losing' item in the comparison. AはBより = 'A, compared to B, is...' If you forget のほうが, the sentence still works.
Examples
Common Mistakes
Incorrect: 犬は猫がより大きいです。 → Correct: 犬は猫より大きいです。. より comes directly after the comparison standard (猫). Don't insert が between the noun and より
Incorrect: 東京はより大きいです。 → Correct: 東京は大阪より大きいです。. You need to state what you're comparing against. より requires a reference point
Quiz
How do you say 'Summer is hotter than spring'?