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Definition
The grammar pattern "〜より〜のほうが" is used to compare two things and indicate that one is more than the other. It is often used to express a preference or a degree of difference. For example, "電車よりバスが速いです" means "The bus is faster than the train." The pattern can be used to compare various aspects such as speed, price, quality, etc. It is a useful pattern to express nuanced differences between two things.
Structure
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun or pronoun | A より B のほうが + adjective | 電車よりバスが速いです (The bus is faster than the train.) |
| Noun or pronoun | A より B のほうが + verb (base form) | 夏より冬が涼しいです (Winter is colder than summer.) |
| Noun or pronoun | A より B のほうが + verb (te-form) | 肉より魚が好きです (I like fish more than meat.) |
Examples
電車よりバスが速いです。
densha yori basu ga hayai desu.
The bus is faster than the train.
電車 (train) より (than) バス (bus) が (is) 速い (faster) です (is)。
夏より冬が涼しいです。
natsu yori fuyu ga samui desu.
Winter is colder than summer.
夏 (summer) より (than) 冬 (winter) が (is) 涼しい (colder) です (is)。
肉より魚が好きです。
niku yori sakana ga suki desu.
I like fish more than meat.
肉 (meat) より (than) 魚 (fish) が (is) 好き (like) です (is)。
この本よりあの本が面白いです。
kono hon yori ano hon ga oishii desu.
This book is more interesting than that book.
この本 (this book) より (than) あの本 (that book) が (is) 面白い (interesting) です (is)。
Context
This pattern is used to compare two things and indicate that one is more than the other. It is often used to express a preference or a degree of difference. The pattern can be used in various contexts such as comparing prices, qualities, speeds, etc. The pattern is used in the polite form, so it is suitable for formal or polite conversations.
Watch out
Reversing the order changes the meaning of the sentence. A より B means B is more than A, not the other way around.
Forgetting の before ほうが changes the grammatical structure of the sentence and makes it incorrect.
Using a negative adjective changes the meaning of the sentence. For example, "この本よりあの本が面白くないです" means "This book is less interesting than that book," which is not what the speaker intended to say.
Strategy
When using this pattern in the JLPT exam, make sure to pay attention to the order of the words and the presence of の before ほうが. Also, be careful not to use a negative adjective, as it changes the meaning of the sentence.
In context
Worked examples drawn from JLPT N5 test-style questions. Each sentence shows 〜より〜のほうが used correctly, with a brief note on what the pattern is doing.
電車よりバスのほうが速いです。
Pattern used: より
より marks the item being compared against. 電車よりバスのほうが速い means 'buses are faster than trains'.
夏より冬のほうが涼しいです。
Pattern used: のほうが
のほうが follows the item that has MORE of the quality. 冬のほうが涼しい means 'winter is cooler (than summer)'.
肉より魚のほうが好きです。
Pattern used: より
より marks what you like less. 肉より魚のほうが好き means 'I like fish more than meat'. Meat is the lesser preference.
Interactive
電車______バスのほうが速いです。
Adaptive practice
Our adaptive engine will quiz you on this grammar pattern and track your progress toward mastery.