JLPT N4 grammar
より (than) — Meaning & Examples
Used for comparisons. AはBより... = A is more... than B. より marks what you're comparing TO. Always combined with an adjective at the end.
Comparing Two Things — より
In Japanese, to say "A is more X than B", you use the pattern:
AはBより [adjective] です。
Think of より as "than" — it marks what you're comparing TO.
Examples:
あしたはきょうよりさむいです。(ashita wa kyō yori samui desu.)
= Tomorrow is colder than today.
このラーメンはそのラーメンよりおいしいです。(kono rāmen wa sono rāmen yori oishii desu.)
= This ramen is more delicious than that ramen.
電車はバスよりはやいです。(densha wa basu yori hayai desu.)
= Trains are faster than buses.
Pattern memory tip: Aは comes first (the thing you're focusing on), then Bより (what you're comparing to), then the adjective.
Practice questions
Try these 3 questions on より (than). Pick an answer in your head, then open “Show answer”.
1. How do you say "A is more X than B"?
- AもBもXです
- AよりBはXです
- AとBをXです
- AはBより Xです
Show answer
Answer: AはBより Xです
AはBよりXです = A is more X than B. より marks what you're comparing TO.
2. あしたはきょうよりさむいです (ashita wa kyō yori samui desu) means?
- Today is colder than tomorrow
- Tomorrow won't be cold
- Today and tomorrow are cold
- Tomorrow is colder than today
Show answer
Answer: Tomorrow is colder than today
AはBより~ pattern. Tomorrow (あした) is colder than today (きょう).
3. "Today is NOT as hot as yesterday" uses?
- より (yori)
- とても (totemo)
- いちばん (ichiban)
- ほど + negative (hodo)
Show answer
Answer: ほど + negative (hodo)
ほど + negative = not as much as. 今日はきのうほどあつくない = Today is not as hot as yesterday.
Practise より (than) in the free app
This point is part of the “Making Comparisons” lesson in A Star Japanese. Study it with examples, a quiz, flashcards and timed JLPT N4 mock exams. Free on iPhone and Android.
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Related N4 grammar points
From the same lesson: Making Comparisons
Frequently asked questions
What does より (than) mean?
Used for comparisons. AはBより... = A is more... than B. より marks what you're comparing TO. Always combined with an adjective at the end.
Is より (than) on the JLPT N4 test?
より (than) is taught in the JLPT N4 grammar course in A Star Japanese (lesson “Making Comparisons”), so it is a pattern learners at this level are expected to recognise. The JLPT does not publish an official grammar list, so treat this as a study guide rather than an official requirement.
How can I practise より (than)?
Open the “Making Comparisons” lesson in the free A Star Japanese app for iPhone and Android. It has examples, a quiz after every lesson, flashcards with spaced repetition and timed JLPT N4 mock exams, with no ads.