より

JLPT N5:

than

Marks the thing something is compared against: "than X".

How to form it

  • Put より after the thing that is less: 犬(いぬ)より猫(ねこ)が好(す)きです (I like cats more than dogs).
  • Because より marks the comparison, the order is flexible: 猫(ねこ)は犬(いぬ)より小(ちい)さい (cats are smaller than dogs).
  • It is often paired with 〜の方(ほう)が: 犬(いぬ)より猫(ねこ)の方(ほう)が好(す)きです.

Examples

犬(いぬ)より猫(ねこ)が好(す)きです。

I like cats more than dogs.

東京(とうきょう)より大阪(おおさか)の方(ほう)が安(やす)いです。

Osaka is cheaper than Tokyo.

Notes

  • To ask which of two, use どちら: 犬(いぬ)と猫(ねこ)と、どちらが好(す)きですか.
  • In formal notices より can also mean "from": 十時(じゅうじ)より開始(かいし)します (starting at ten).

Common mistakes

  • Putting より after the thing that is more. In 犬(いぬ)より猫(ねこ)が好(す)き, the dog is liked less.

Similar meaning