〜より / 〜のほうが: Comparing Two Things ('More Than')
What it means
Japanese has no special comparative ending like English "-er" or "more." Instead you just name the two things and use より ("than") for the one being compared against. The adjective itself never changes — 高い stays 高い whether it means "tall" or "taller." The other big piece is のほうが, which literally means "the side of ___ is more," so it spotlights the winner of the comparison.
ヤッタンはモチより背が高い。
ヤッタンは モチより せが たかい。
Yattan is taller than Mochi.
より attaches right after モチ = 'than Mochi.'
今日は昨日より暑いです。
きょうは きのうより あついです。
Today is hotter than yesterday.
モチよりヤッタンのほうが速いです。
モチより ヤッタンの ほうが はやいです。
Yattan is faster than Mochi.
The のほうが frame: より names the loser, のほうが marks the winner.
How to form it
Both frames compare the same two things — the difference is which one you make the subject and where のほうが goes.
| Frame | Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Plain "than" | A は B より [adjective] | A is more [adj] than B |
| Reversed (very common) | B より A のほうが [adjective] | A is more [adj] than B |
| Same, reordered | A のほうが B より [adjective] | A is more [adj] than B |
| Answer to a question | A のほうが [adjective]（です） | A is the more [adj] one |
A key point: より sticks directly onto the noun it follows (モチより, 昨日より) with no extra particle. And のほうが naturally pairs with より — when you use one, the other usually shows up too.
The reversed frame: BよりAのほうが
This is the version you will hear most in everyday speech. You lead with the thing being compared against (B + より), then put the winner forward with のほうが:
バスより電車のほうが便利です。
バスより でんしゃの ほうが べんりです。
The train is more convenient than the bus.
先生はヤッタンより日本語のほうが上手です。
せんせいは ヤッタンより にほんごの ほうが じょうずです。
The teacher is better at Japanese than Yattan is.
のほうが follows a noun directly; な-adjectives like 上手 work the same way.
You can also flip the order to AのほうがBより, which keeps the same meaning and just leads with the winner:
ヤッタンのほうが弟より早く起きます。
ヤッタンの ほうが おとうとより はやく おきます。
Yattan wakes up earlier than his little brother.
のほうが can sit before or after the より phrase.
Answering comparison questions
To ask "which of two is more [adj]?" use AとBとどちらが〜? The natural answer puts のほうが on your choice — you do not need より again, because the question already named both options:
コーヒーと紅茶とどちらが好きですか。
コーヒーと こうちゃと どちらが すきですか。
Which do you like more, coffee or tea?
紅茶のほうが好きです。
こうちゃの ほうが すきです。
I like tea more.
The answer drops より and just marks the choice with のほうが.
For three or more things ("the most"), Japanese switches to a different word, いちばん, rather than より.
Common mistakes
- Wrong word order around より. より comes after the thing you compare against: モチより背が高い (✓), not より モチ. Think of より as gluing onto the noun before it.
- Forgetting that のほうが pairs with より. In the reversed frame you need both: バスより電車のほうが便利 (✓). Saying only 電車のほうが便利 is fine as a short answer, but mid-comparison you still want より to name the other side.
- Adding を or が before より. より attaches straight to the noun — モチより (✓), not モチをより or モチがより.
- Using より for "the most." より only compares two things. For "the ___-est" out of a group, use いちばん instead.
Quick recap
- より = "than"; it marks the thing you compare against and attaches right after that noun.
- のほうが = "the side of ___ is more"; it marks the winner of the comparison.
- Two main frames: AはBより[adj] and the reversed BよりAのほうが[adj] — same meaning.
- Answer どちらが questions with Aのほうが〜; you can drop より there.
- The adjective never changes form; for "the most," use いちばん.
Your turn
Choose the correct use of より / のほうが to compare two things.
Start the 5-question drill →Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between より and のほうが?
より means 'than' and marks the thing you compare against (モチより = 'than Mochi'). のほうが marks the side that is 'more' (ヤッタンのほうが = 'Yattan is more...'). They usually appear together: モチよりヤッタンのほうが速い.
Do I always need both より and のほうが?
Not always. AはBより[adj] works with just より. But the very common reversed frame BよりAのほうが[adj] uses both, and short answers can use のほうが alone.
How do I answer 'AとBとどちらが〜?'
Pick your choice and mark it with のほうが: 紅茶のほうが好きです ('I like tea more'). You don't need より again because the question already named both options.
How do I say 'the most' instead of 'more'?
より only compares two things. For 'the most' out of a group of three or more, use いちばん instead.