When combining the 引用(いんよう) ‘quotation’ use of the 格助詞(かくじょし) (case marking particle) と with the う - Verb 言(い)う ‘to say’, and the 格助詞(かくじょし) より ‘comparing’,
というより presents a phrase that is being compared through further evaluation/reconsideration. This may be thought of as similar to ‘rather than saying (A), (B)’ in English.
というより may be used after any type of word. However, due to phrase that comes before it ‘determining’ something that will then be compared, nouns and
な-Adjectives will require
だ (despite being omitted in casual speech).
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あの人(ひと)は仕事(しごと)をしているというより、仕事(しごと)をさせられている感(かん)じがする。
Rather than saying that he is working, it seems like he is being made to work.
日本(にほん)の天井(てんじょう)が低(ひく)いというより、あなたの身長(しんちょう)が高(たか)いだけだと思(おも)う。
Rather than Japanese ceilings being low, I think you are just tall.
彼(かれ)は暇(ひま)だというより、なにをすればいいか分(わ)からないだけだ。
Rather than having nothing to do, I just don't know what I should be doing.
ここは公園(こうえん)だというより、小(ちい)さい広場(ひろば)みたいな物(もの)だ。
Rather than calling this a park, it is something more like a small field.
It should be remembered that より (in all of its uses) will highlight something that is ‘less’. This means that the (B) part of
というより sentences will always describe something that is ‘more’, ‘closer’, ‘more accurate’, etc.
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マサミさんは綺麗(きれい)というより、かわいい。
Masami is more cute than beautiful.
その話(はなし)がつまらないというより、興味(きょうみ)がないだけ。
It's not that the story is boring, it's just more that I have no interest in it.