Mastering the Comparison Particle: より (Yori)

By /
Mastering the Comparison Particle: より (Yori)
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

Than; from.

🎯 Primary Function

To indicate the object or point of comparison in a sentence.

📋 Grammar Structure

Verb (Dictionary form) + より / Noun + より
Noun + より + I-adjective
Noun + より + Na-adjective (+ だ/です)
Noun + より + Verb (Negative form) / Noun + より + Adjective (Negative form)

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Used frequently in formal speeches and written reports, especially when replacing ‘kara’ for starting points.

😊 Informal Situations

Commonly used in daily conversation to express preferences and compare objects.

✍️ Written Language

Used in academic writing and literature for precise comparisons.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Often paired with ‘hou ga’ to clarify which side is ‘more’.

💡 Common Applications

Standard Comparison
The most common use to compare two things. ‘Yori’ marks the item that serves as the baseline for comparison.
Example: AはBより[Adjective]です。 (A is more [Adj] than B.)
Action Comparison
Comparing two actions using the dictionary form of verbs.
Example: 食べるより作るほうが好きです。 (I like making food more than eating it.)
Starting Point (Formal)
In formal or written contexts, ‘yori’ can replace ‘kara’ to indicate a starting time or place.
Example: 10時より会議を始めます。 (The meeting will start from 10 o’clock.)
📊
Frequency
Very High
🎚️
Difficulty
JLPT N4 (Intermediate Beginner)
Tag:

Related Kanji

JLPT N4 Kanji List

Related Vocabulary

JLPT N4 Vocabulary List
Example Sentences
Example #1
このケーキはあのケーキより甘いです。
Furigana: このケーキはあのケーキよりあまいです。
Romaji: Kono keeki wa ano keeki yori amai desu.
English: This cake is sweeter than that one.
Example #2
電車で行くほうがバスより速いです。
Furigana: でんしゃでいくほうがバスよりはやいです。
Romaji: Densha de iku hou ga basu yori hayai desu.
English: Going by train is faster than going by bus.
Example #3
私は犬より猫のほうが好きです。
Furigana: わたしはいぬよりねこのほうがすきです。
Romaji: Watashi wa inu yori neko no hou ga suki desu.
English: I like cats more than dogs.
Example #4
本を読むのはテレビを見るより楽しいです。
Furigana: ほんをよむのはテレビをみるよりたのしいです。
Romaji: Hon o yomu no wa terebi o miru yori tanoshii desu.
English: Reading books is more fun than watching television.
Example #5
今日は昨日よりずっと暑いですね。
Furigana: きょうはきのうよりずっとあついですね。
Romaji: Kyou wa kinou yori zutto atsui desu ne.
English: Today is much hotter than yesterday, isn’t it?
Example #6
東京は大阪より人が多いです。
Furigana: とうきょうはおおさかよりひとがおおいです。
Romaji: Toukyou wa Oosaka yori hito ga ooi desu.
English: Tokyo has more people than Osaka.
Example #7
働くことは勉強することより大変だと思います。
Furigana: はたらくことはべんきょうすることよりたいへんだとおもいます。
Romaji: Hataraku koto wa benkyou suru koto yori taihen da to omoimasu.
English: I think working is harder than studying.
Example #8
彼女は私より上手に日本語を話します。
Furigana: かのじょはわたしよりじょうずににほんごをはなします。
Romaji: Kanojo wa watashi yori jouzu ni Nihongo o hanashimasu.
English: She speaks Japanese better than I do.
Example #9
試験は思っていたより簡単でした。
Furigana: しけんは おもっていたより かんたんでした。
Romaji: Shiken wa omotte ita yori kantan deshita.
English: The exam was easier than I had expected.
Example #10
9時より前に来てください。
Furigana: ９じよりまえにきてください。
Romaji: Kuji yori mae ni kite kudasai.
English: Please come before 9:00 (Earlier than 9).
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

The ‘Yori’ marks the baseline/lesser degree.
‘Yori’ marks the baseline. Think of it as ‘starting from [baseline]’. Anything else mentioned is ‘more’ than that baseline.
Example: 昨日より今日ほうが暑いです。 (Today is hotter than yesterday.)
Relationship with ‘Hodo’ (~ほど).
Use ‘yori’ for positive comparisons (A is more than B). Use ‘hodo’ with negative verbs for negative comparisons (A is not as much as B).
Example: 今日は昨日より暑いです。 vs 今日は昨日ほど暑くないです。

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Confusing the subject and the comparison point.
✅ AはBより[Adj]です。 (A is [Adj] than B)
Learners often confuse which item is ‘more’. The noun immediately preceding ‘yori’ is the one being compared against (the lesser one in the specific context).

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Neutral. It is used in all levels of politeness from casual to humble/honorific.
Social Situations: Used when making choices, shopping, or discussing opinions.
Regional Variations: Standard across Japan.

🔍 Subtle Differences

より (yori) vs ほど (hodo)
‘Yori’ is used for ‘more than’, while ‘hodo’ is used for ‘not as much as’ (in negative sentences).
When to use: Use ‘yori’ for ‘A > B’. Use ‘hodo… nai’ for ‘A < B'.

📝 Conjugation Notes

‘Yori’ is a particle and does not conjugate. It directly follows nouns, dictionary-form verbs, or clauses.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

The ‘yo’ is a short sound, not ‘yoo’. Keep the pitch flat or slightly dropping depending on the sentence flow.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of ‘Yori’ as the ‘Y’ in ‘Your baseline’. Whatever comes before ‘yori’ is the thing you are measuring against.

Other Grammar

Related Posts

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top