より marks the standard of comparison: バスより means “than the bus”. Compare the examples and table, then try the exercises.

The idea

より marks the standard of comparison: バスより means “than the bus”. Noun + のほうが highlights the preferred or higher-degree side. In 夏より冬のほうが寒い, winter is colder than summer: the property applies more to the ほう side.

Patterns to compare
FormExample
バスより電車でんしゃのほうが速はやいです
冬ふゆより夏なつのほうが好すきです
海うみと山やま山やまのほうが好すきです

Examples

  • この電車でんしゃはバスより速はやいです。This train is faster than the bus.
  • 冬ふゆより夏なつのほうが好すきです。I like summer more than winter.
  • 兄あにのほうが弟おとうとより背せが高たかいです。My older brother is taller than my younger brother.
  • このかばんはあのかばんより安やすいです。This bag is cheaper than that bag.
  • 海うみと山やまと、どちらが好すきですか。Which do you like better, the sea or the mountains?
  • 山やまのほうが好すきです。I prefer the mountains.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

The より phrase can be omitted when the comparison is clear from context; ほう does not by itself mean “most”.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct option. 電車でんしゃはバス＿＿速はやいです。（より／の）

    Show answer or example answer

    より

    より — より marks the standard of comparison: バスより means “than the bus”.

  2. Choose the correct option. 夏なつ＿＿ほうが好すきです。（の／に）

    Show answer or example answer

    の

    の — Noun + のほうが highlights the preferred or higher-degree side.

  3. Choose the correct option. Which is colder? 夏なつより冬ふゆのほうが寒さむいです。（夏なつ／冬ふゆ）

    Show answer or example answer

    冬

    冬 — In 夏より冬のほうが寒い, winter is colder than summer: the property applies more to the ほう side.

Use it today

Make two sentences about your own life with this pattern. Check their form and meaning against the examples.