Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 9: 15/23

何(なに)より

Be glad, Be relieved, Most, Best, Above all else, More than anything

Structure

何(なに)より + （も）+ Phrase
何(なに)より + の + Noun

Details

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    Standard

  • 使用域

    一般

About 何より

何(なに)より, or 何(なに)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(なに) 'what', or 'whatever', and the particle より 'than', the closest literal translation is 'more than anything, (A)'. 何(なに)より is primarily used to express positive feelings when the actual situation may have been worse, but (A) is the most important.
何(なに)より, and 何(なに)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(なに)より驚(おどろ)いたのは、あの中田(なかた)くんが医者(いしゃ)になったことだ。
    The most surprising thing is that Nakata-kun became a doctor.
  • 田中(たなか)様(さま)のお役(やく)に立(た)てて何(なに)よりです。
    We are glad to be of service to you, Tanaka-sama.
  • 何(なに)よりも大切(たいせつ)なのは、何(なん)でも諦(あきら)めずに頑張(がんば)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(やす)みの日(ひ)に妻(つま)とドライブに行(い)くのが何(なに)よりの楽(たの)しみです。
    I love going on drives with my wife on weekends more than anything.
As in most cases, も just strengthens the phrase slightly, with no other significant change in nuance.

Examples

  • 久(ひさ)しぶりに挨拶(あいさつ)する時(とき)：「お元気(げんき)そうで何(なに)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(きじ)：「両親(りょうしん)にとって自分(じぶん)の子供(こども)の健康(けんこう)が何(なに)より大切(たいせつ)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(ほん)、わたしの息子(むすこ)がとても気(き)に入(い)っています。」
    おのでらさん：「それは何(なに)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(やく)に立(た)てれば、何(なに)よりの幸(しあわ)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(み)つけた時(とき)、すべて折半(せっぱん)だよ。」
    「どっちにしろ、そのためには、何(なに)よりまず見(み)つけないと話(はなし)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.'

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