Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
Expresses comparison, indicating that something exceeds or is preferred over something else.
🎯 Primary Function
To mark the standard of comparison when stating that something is ‘more than’ or ‘rather than’ something else.
📋 Grammar Structure
[Noun / い-adjective (plain form) / な-adjective stem / Verb (plain form) / Clause] + よりも This structure is followed by the item that is superior or preferred, often marked with が or は, and a predicate. Common sentence patterns include:
[Noun/Clause A] よりも [Noun/Clause B] が/は [Predicate]
[Noun/Clause B] は [Noun/Clause A] よりも [Predicate]
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Commonly used.
Informal Situations
Commonly used.
Written Language
Frequently appears in written text.
Spoken Language
Frequently used in conversation.
💡 Common Applications
Comparing two nouns or entities based on a quality.
Used to say ‘X is more [adjective] than Y’. Y comes before よりも.
Example: 車は自転車よりも速いです。(Kuruma wa jitensha yori mo hayai desu.) – Cars are faster than bicycles.
Comparing actions or clauses.
Used to compare two activities or situations, often indicating preference or relative degree.
Example: 見るよりも、する方が楽しい。(Miru yori mo, suru hō ga tanoshii.) – Doing is more fun than watching.
Expressing preference.
Used to state a preference for one thing over another.
Example: 紅茶よりもコーヒーが好きです。(Kōcha yori mo kōhī ga suki desu.) – I like coffee more than black tea.
Frequency
Very common and essential for making comparisons.
Difficulty
Intermediate (JLPT N3).
Example Sentences
去年の夏よりも今年の夏は暑い。
This summer is hotter than last summer.
本を読むよりも、映画を見る方が好きです。
I prefer watching movies to reading books.
彼よりも彼女の方が日本語が上手だ。
She is better at Japanese than him.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Emphasis
よりも often adds a slight emphasis to the comparison compared to just より, highlighting the degree of difference.
Example: 昨日よりも今日の方が寒い。(Kinō yori mo kyō no hō ga samui.) – Today is *even* colder than yesterday. (Slight emphasis)
Placement
The item being compared *against* (the less [quality] one, or the less preferred one) comes before よりも.
Example: りんごよりもバナナが好き。(Ringo yori mo banana ga suki.) – Bananas are liked *more than* apples. (Apples are the standard of comparison).
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Confusing より and よりも.
✅ While often interchangeable, よりも can add slight emphasis. より is slightly more formal and common in fixed expressions.
どちらを使っても通じる場合が多いですが、ニュアンスに違いがあります。(Dochira o tsukatte mo tsūjiru baai ga ōi desu ga, nyuansu ni chigai ga arimasu.) – In many cases, either can be used and understood, but there is a difference in nuance.
❌ Incorrectly placing the items being compared.
✅ The item that is the standard of comparison (the one being surpassed) comes *before* よりも.
AよりもBが好き。(A yori mo B ga suki.) means ‘I like B more than A’. Not ‘I like A more than B’.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Standard/Neutral. Suitable for various social situations.
Social Situations: Used widely in daily conversations and formal discussions when making comparisons.
Regional Variations: Standard across regions.
🔍 Subtle Differences
よりも vs より
よりも has slightly more emphasis on the difference than より.
When to use: Use よりも for a bit more emphasis or in general comparisons. Use より in slightly more formal or fixed expressions, or when emphasis isn’t needed.
よりも vs の方が (no hō ga)
Both express comparison. AよりBの方が is a very explicit way of saying ‘B is more X than A’, often presenting B as the preferred/superior option out of stated choices. よりも can be part of different sentence structures.
When to use: Use AよりBの方が for clear comparisons between two things. よりも is more versatile and can be used in clauses (e.g., 見るよりもする方が) or in slightly more complex sentences.
よりも vs に比べて (ni kurabete)
に比べて means ‘compared to’ and implies a more analytical comparison, often involving multiple aspects or data.
When to use: Use に比べて when presenting a comparison in a more objective or detailed manner, often in formal or academic contexts. Use よりも for direct, simpler comparisons.
📝 Conjugation Notes
よりも is a particle and does not conjugate itself. It follows nouns, the plain form of verbs/い-adjectives, and the stem of な-adjectives.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Pronounced ‘yori-mo’. Ensure the ‘o’ sound is distinct.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of ‘よりも’ as ‘more *than* (this)’. The ‘this’ is the word or phrase right before よりも.
Practice Exercises
日本語はスペイン語＿＿＿難しいですか？
が
に
よりも
と
私は肉＿＿＿魚の方が好きです。
よりも
と
は
へ
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