よりMore than, Over

Structure

Verb + より + Adjective
Noun + より + Adjective

Details

About より

In N5, we learned about the use of より that is seen when making comparisons in より～のほうが. However, in this lesson, we will take a look at how this case marking particle can be used by itself. When used alone, this particle expresses that (A) (a noun or verb) is being compared to (B) (a noun or verb that is regularly paired with an adjective). The word that より is directly attached to will always be 'less than' the comparison being made. However, the overall expression is used to describe that (B) is 'more' (something) than (A).

Caution

In many textbooks, より is taught as meaning 'more', but the word that より is attached to will actually be the thing that is 'less' (something). The word/quote that has が attached to it will be the thing that is 'more' (adjective). This is particularly confusing when より is not directly attached to a word, something which is common in casual spoken language.

In this sentence, because the が is attached to これ, これ is the thing that is 'more expensive'. As より is not actually directly connected to any other word, it therefore means that これ is expensive, compared to 'other things'. When you see より like this, just pretend that it says 'other things' before it.

Examples

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あなたの絵(え)は私(わたし)の絵(え)より上手(じょうず)。

Your paintings are better than mine.

月曜日(げつようび)より日曜日(にちようび)がいい。

Sunday is better than Monday.

日本語(にほんご)は英語(えいご)より話(はな)しにくい。

Japanese is harder to speak than English.

いつも飲(の)んでいる水(みず)より好(す)き。

I like this (drink) more than the water that I usually drink.

スポーツをするより、ゲームの方(ほう)が楽(たの)しい。

Video games are more exciting than sports.

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Online
- A is MORE / BETTER than B (comparison)
  Japanese Ammo
- How to use より
  MaggieSensei
- Using 「より」 for comparisons
  Tae Kim

Offline
- [DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
  Page 564
- Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
  Page 270
- みんなの日本語 I
  Page 80 [CH 12]
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より – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (7 in total)

Jake
Structure
- Noun/Verb + より + Adjective
About より

In N5, we learned about the use of より that is seen when making comparisons in より～のほうが. However, in this lesson, we will take a look at how this case marking particle can be used by itself. When used alone, this particle expresses that (A) (a noun or verb) is being compared to (B) (a noun or verb that is regularly paired with an adjective). The word that より is directly attached to will always be ‘less than’ the comparison being made. However, the overall expression is used to describe that (B) is ‘more’ (something) than (A).
- パンダはバナナより重おもい。
Pandas are heavier than bananas.
- 太陽たいようはロウソクより明あかるい。
The sun is brighter than a candle.

Cauti...
monoverse
Hope I’m in the right thread to ask this question, but I’m confused.
What is the difference between yori … no hou ga and only using yori in a comparison? Thanks!
mrnoone
@monoverse

Hey, this is the perfect place to ask these questions

The differences:
- 方 is a noun meaning “side” and refers to the “upper” element in comparison, and より is a particle meaning (among others) “rather than” and marks “lower” element in comparison
- 方が and より have their own set expressions, where the other cannot be used like:
  方がいい - 薬を飲んだ方がいい (You better drink the medicine)
  より (even more) この教科書をより使いやすくしました。
  (We made this textbook even easier to use.)
  より (from) 大統領より呼び出しです (It is a call from the president."
  etc.
- Yの方がXより is used more often when answering the question, and YはXより is used often when Y (topic...
darkness_rising
Hey, I have a question:
In this sentence: いつも飲んでいる水 __好き。
Why is より and よりも accepted?
nekoyama
The も emphasises it a bit. The Maggie Sensei article linked under readings covers it, so I guess they were anticipating us trying to use it…
deltacat3

ああいう家よりこういう家のほうが住みたくなる。
I would like to live in this kind of house more than that kind of house.

What is the なる at the end expressing here? Doesn’t 住みたい express this desire to reside by itself?
Pushindawood
@deltacat3 Hey! ~たい means that I want to do something in that moment. ~たくなる may mean that I want to do something, but it is not as immediate or the situation at hand does not call for that desire. ~たくなる almost always implies that what the person wants to do is something that they would want to do or something that they want to do in the future.

Here’s a great answer by a native. Cheers!
dokidokiwakuwaku
Can I ask about the difference in usage/nuance between より and 以上に? Thanks!