より (Comparison)比較
より marks the item being compared against — the "than" in English. 東京は大阪より大きい means "Tokyo is bigger than Osaka." より also appears in formal expressions meaning "from" and in the superlative pattern より + もっと.
より marks the item being compared against — the "than" in English. 東京は大阪より大きい means "Tokyo is bigger than Osaka." より also appears in formal expressions meaning "from" and in the superlative pattern より + もっと.
Core use: comparison ("than")
The basic pattern: AはBより[adjective] = A is more [adjective] than B. 東京は大阪より大きい (Tokyo is bigger than Osaka). 日本語は英語より難しい (Japanese is harder than English). より follows the thing you’re comparing against (the "loser" in the comparison).
Comparison questions: AとBとどちらが？
To ask a comparison: AとBとどちらが[adjective]ですか = Which is more X, A or B? 犬と猫とどちらが好きですか (Which do you like more, dogs or cats?). Answer: 犬のほうが好きです (I like dogs more). This is the standard comparison question pattern.
The のほうが pattern
Often paired with より: AのほうがBより[adjective] = A is more [adjective] than B. 電車のほうがバスより速い (Trains are faster than buses). のほうが emphasizes A as the "winner." In casual speech, より is sometimes dropped: 電車のほうが速い.
Formal より meaning "from"
In formal writing and set phrases, より means "from" (similar to から): 心より感謝いたします (I thank you from the bottom of my heart), 本日よりサービス開始 (Service starts from today). This is literary/formal — don’t use it in casual speech.
よりも for emphasis
Adding も after より strengthens the comparison: 何よりも大切 (more important than anything), 思ったよりもずっと難しい (much harder than I thought). よりも = "even more than."
Example sentences
夏は冬より好きです。
Natsu wa fuyu yori suki desu.
I like summer more than winter.
より marks the compared-against item
予想より早く着きました。
Yosou yori hayaku tsukimashita.
I arrived earlier than expected.
より with an abstract standard
犬と猫とどちらが好きですか。
Inu to neko to dochira ga suki desu ka.
Which do you like more, dogs or cats?
Standard comparison question
電車のほうがバスより便利です。
Densha no hou ga basu yori benri desu.
Trains are more convenient than buses.
のほうが + より pattern
何よりも健康が大事だ。
Nani yori mo kenkou ga daiji da.
Health is more important than anything.
よりも = even more than
Common mistakes
東京は大阪がより大きい。
東京は大阪より大きい。
より comes directly after the compared item. が is not needed (or correct) between the compared item and より.
もっと大阪より大きい。
大阪よりもっと大きい。
もっと (more) goes after より, not before. Or simply use より alone without もっと, since より already means "more than."
友達より来ました (casual speech, meaning "came from")
友達から来ました
In modern casual/spoken Japanese, use から for "from." より meaning "from" is only for formal writing and set expressions.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use より without のほうが?
Yes. 東京は大阪より大きい is complete without のほうが. The のほうが pattern (東京のほうが大阪より大きい) is an alternative that puts extra emphasis on the winner, but it's not required.
How do I say "the most" (superlative) in Japanese?
Use 一番 (ichiban): 東京は日本で一番大きい (Tokyo is the biggest in Japan). There is no direct より-based superlative. For "more than anything," use 何よりも.
Is より the same as から?
In modern casual Japanese, no. から means "from" in everyday speech. より only means "from" in formal/literary contexts (心より = from the heart). In modern speech, より almost exclusively means "than" for comparison.
より marks which item in a comparison?