Basic Comparison より in Japanese

Overview

Comparing two things is a natural part of everyday conversation -- which food is better, which city is bigger, which season you prefer. In Japanese, the particle より (yori) is the key word for making comparisons, functioning much like "than" in English. Combined with the pattern ほうが (the one that is more...), you can express preferences and comparisons clearly.

At CEFR A1, you will learn the basic comparison structure, which covers comparing two items directly. This is simpler than English in some ways -- Japanese does not change the adjective form (no "bigger" or "more interesting"), and the sentence structure is consistent regardless of the adjective used.

The comparison pattern is particularly useful for expressing preferences, which is a core part of A1 conversation. Whether you are talking about food, seasons, hobbies, or cities, the より/ほうが structure will serve you well.

How It Works

Pattern 1: A は B より Adjective

States that A has more of a quality than B. B is the reference point.

A は B より [Adjective] です

Japanese	English
東京は大阪より大きいです。(toukyou wa oosaka yori ookii desu)	Tokyo is bigger than Osaka.
日本語は英語より難しいです。(nihongo wa eigo yori muzukashii desu)	Japanese is harder than English.

Pattern 2: B より A のほうが Adjective

Emphasizes A as "the more..." one. This is the more common conversational pattern.

B より A のほうが [Adjective] です

Japanese	English
夏より冬のほうが好きです。(natsu yori fuyu no hou ga suki desu)	I like winter more than summer.
肉より魚のほうがいいです。(niku yori sakana no hou ga ii desu)	Fish is better than meat.

Both patterns express the same comparison, but Pattern 2 is more natural in conversation, especially when expressing preferences.

Pattern 3: Asking Comparison Questions with どちら

Use どちら (dochira -- which of the two) to ask comparison questions:

A と B と、どちらが [Adjective] ですか？

Japanese	English
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, dogs or cats?
電車とバスと、どちらが速いですか？(densha to basu to, dochira ga hayai desu ka)	Which is faster, trains or buses?

Answering Comparison Questions

Question	Answer
コーヒーと紅茶と、どちらが好きですか？	コーヒーのほうが好きです。(I like coffee more.)
どちらが安いですか？	こちらのほうが安いです。(This one is cheaper.)
どちらがいいですか？	どちらでもいいです。(Either is fine.)

Key Vocabulary

Word	Reading	Role
より	yori	than (comparison particle)
のほうが	no hou ga	the one that is more...
どちら	dochira	which (of two)
どちらも	dochira mo	both
どちらでも	dochira demo	either (is fine)

Examples in Context

Japanese	English	Note
東京は大阪より大きいです。(toukyou wa oosaka yori ookii desu)	Tokyo is bigger than Osaka.	A は B より pattern
どちらが好きですか？(dochira ga suki desu ka)	Which do you prefer?	どちら question
夏より冬のほうが好きです。(natsu yori fuyu no hou ga suki desu)	I like winter more than summer.	より...のほうが pattern
肉より魚のほうがいいです。(niku yori sakana no hou ga ii desu)	Fish is better than meat.	Preference with いい
バスより電車のほうが速いです。(basu yori densha no hou ga hayai desu)	Trains are faster than buses.	Speed comparison
日本語は中国語より簡単ですか？(nihongo wa chuugokugo yori kantan desu ka)	Is Japanese easier than Chinese?	Question form
今日は昨日より暖かいです。(kyou wa kinou yori atatakai desu)	Today is warmer than yesterday.	Weather comparison
お茶よりコーヒーのほうがよく飲みます。(ocha yori koohii no hou ga yoku nomimasu)	I drink coffee more often than tea.	With verb
どちらも好きです。(dochira mo suki desu)	I like both.	Neutral answer
兄は私より背が高いです。(ani wa watashi yori se ga takai desu)	My older brother is taller than me.	Physical comparison
春と秋と、どちらが好きですか？(haru to aki to, dochira ga suki desu ka)	Which do you like, spring or autumn?	Full question
こちらのほうが安いです。(kochira no hou ga yasui desu)	This one is cheaper.	Shopping context

Common Mistakes

Reversing the order of A and B

• Wrong: 大阪は東京より大きいです。 (when you mean Tokyo is bigger)
• Right: 東京は大阪より大きいです。
• Why: The item after より is the lesser one -- the reference point. A は B より means "A is more [adj] than B." Getting this backwards reverses your meaning.

Forgetting のほうが

• Wrong: 冬より夏が好きです。
• Right: 冬より夏のほうが好きです。
• Why: While the shorter form is sometimes heard, the のほうが version is standard and clearer. It explicitly marks which item you are choosing.

Using どちら for three or more items

• Wrong: りんごとバナナとみかんと、どちらが好きですか？
• Right: りんごとバナナとみかんの中で、どれが好きですか？
• Why: どちら is strictly for choosing between two items. For three or more, use どれ (which one) with の中で (among).

Changing the adjective form

• Wrong: 東京は大阪よりもっと大きいです。 (redundant)
• Right: 東京は大阪より大きいです。
• Why: Unlike English, Japanese does not change adjective forms for comparisons (no "bigger"). The より structure already indicates comparison, so adding もっと (more) is redundant in basic comparisons.

Practice Tips

• Compare things around you. Pick two objects, foods, or places and make comparison sentences: このペンはそのペンより長いです, コーヒーより水のほうが安いです. Everyday comparisons are great practice.

• Practice the full question-answer cycle. Ask yourself どちらが好きですか？ about pairs of things, then answer with のほうが好きです. This builds conversational fluency with the entire comparison pattern.

• Use comparisons in your journal. Write daily entries comparing today with yesterday, this week with last week, or your preferences: 今日は昨日より暑いです. This makes the pattern automatic.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: い-Adjectives -- comparisons use adjectives, so knowing い-adjective forms is essential