Structure
何より + (も)+ Phrase
何より + の + Noun
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使用域
一般
About 何より
何より, or 何よりも when emphasized, is a common phrase in Japanese that is used when one wants to express that they are 'glad', 'relieved', or that '(A) is more important than anything'. As this structure is simply a combination of the substitute noun 何 'what', or 'whatever', and the particle より 'than', the closest literal translation is 'more than anything, (A)'. 何より is primarily used to express positive feelings when the actual situation may have been worse, but (A) is the most important.
何より, and 何よりも most often behave adverbially, meaning that they can be used at the beginning of a sentence, or right before the word they are describing. However, they occasionally come directly before a noun when followed by の.
何より, and 何よりも most often behave adverbially, meaning that they can be used at the beginning of a sentence, or right before the word they are describing. However, they occasionally come directly before a noun when followed by の.
- 何より驚いたのは、あの中田くんが医者になったことだ。The most surprising thing is that Nakata-kun became a doctor.
- 田中様のお役に立てて何よりです。We are glad to be of service to you, Tanaka-sama.
- 何よりも大切なのは、何でも諦めずに頑張ってやることだ。The most important thing is to not give up and to do your best in anything you do.
- 休みの日に妻とドライブに行くのが何よりの楽しみです。I love going on drives with my wife on weekends more than anything.
Examples
久しぶりに挨拶する時:「お元気そうで何よりです。」
When greeting someone we haven't seen for a long time: 'I am really glad that you seem to be doing well.'
お元気で何よりです is another popular variant of this expression which literally means 'it is above all else that you seem healthy'.
記事:「両親にとって自分の子供の健康が何より大切です。」
Article: 'For parents, there is nothing more important than the health of their children.'
何より is often used with expressions like 大切、大事, 素晴らしい, 好き, 嫌い, etc.
らくさん:「あなたにもらった本、わたしの息子がとても気に入っています。」
おのでらさん:「それは何よりです。」Raku: 'My son loved the book he received from you.'
Onodera: 'I am really glad.'It is very common to use 何より with それは.
「ありがとうございます。」
「お役に立てれば、何よりの幸せです。」'Thank you very much.'
'More than anything I am happy if I am able to help.'何より can be used to express humility or when speaking to superiors.
「見つけた時、すべて折半だよ。」
「どっちにしろ、そのためには、何よりまず見つけないと話にならん。」'When we find it, we split everything equally.'
'Either way, for that, above all else, if we can't find it first, we won't get anywhere.'Get more example sentences!
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Nihongo Master
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Tobira
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[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
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