Grammar Info
N3 Lesson 5: 15/21

と言(い)うより
...is more of a... than a..., rather than saying that...

Structure
Verb + いうより
[い]Adjective + いうより
[な]Adjective + () + いうより
Noun + () + いうより
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
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 (despite being omitted in casual speech).
  • あの人(ひと)は仕事(しごと)しているというより、仕事(しごと)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)天井(てんじょう)低(ひく)いというより、あなた身長(しんちょう)高(たか)いだけと思(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、なにすればいいか分(わ)からないだけ
    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)
    Rather than calling this a park, it is something more like a small field.
Caution
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.
  • 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)つまらないというより、興味(きょうみ)ないだけ
    It's not that the story is boring, it's just more that I have no interest in it.
Slow Male
Hide All
Hide Japanese
Hide English
今日(きょう)暖(あたた)かいというより暑(あつ)い
It is hot rather than warm today.
Play  
あの人(ひと)かわいいというより綺麗(きれい)
That person is beautiful rather than cute.
Play  
毎日(まいにち)というより一週間(いっしゅうかん)に五回(ごかい)運動(うんどう)するだろう。
Rather than saying every day, I would say I exercise five times a week.
Play