Structure
Verb + より + Adjective
Noun + より + Adjective
Details
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Standard
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).
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パンダはバナナより重い。
Pandas are heavier than bananas.
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太陽はロウソクより明るい。
The sun is brighter than a candle.
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.
これがより高いものになります。
This is the thing that would be more expensive. (Compared to everything else that is here)
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.
Related
Examples
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あなたの絵は私の絵より上手。
Your paintings are better than mine.
月曜日より日曜日がいい。
Sunday is better than Monday.
日本語は英語より話しにくい。
Japanese is harder to speak than English.
いつも飲んでいる水より好き。
I like this (drink) more than the water that I usually drink.
スポーツをするより、ゲームの方が楽しい。
Video games are more exciting than sports.
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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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