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Grammar JLPT Level N4 - Lesson 6

Structure of より:

Noun/Verb + より + Adjective

Details about より:

In N5, we learned about the use of より that is seen when making comparisons in より~のほうが. However, in this lesson, we will take a look at how this case marking particlecan be used by itself. When used alone, this particle expresses that (A) (a noun or verb) is being compared to (B) (a noun or verb that is regularly paired with an adjective). The word that より is directly attached to will always be 'less than' the comparison being made. However, the overall expression is used to describe that (B) is 'more' (something) than (A).
  • パンダバナナより(おも)
    Pandas are heavier than bananas.
  • 太陽(たいよう)ロウソクより(あか)
    The sun is brighter than a candle.
より

Usage Notes for より:

In many textbooks, より is taught as meaning 'more', but the word that より is attached to will actually be the thing that is 'less' (something). The word/quote that has attached to it will be the thing that is 'more' (adjective). This is particularly confusing when より is not directly attached to a word, something which is common in casual spoken language.
  • これより(たか)いものになります
    This is the thing that would be more expensive. (Compared to everything else that is here)
In this sentence, because the is attached to これ, これ is the thing that is 'more expensive'. As より is not actually directly connected to any other word, it therefore means that これ is expensive, compared to 'other things'. When you see より like this, just pretend that it says 'other things' before it.

Synonyms for より:

ほど~ない
Is not as…as, Isn't... like..., Not to the extent of...
より~のほうが
To be more ~ than ~
というより
...is more of a... than a..., Rather than saying that...
以上に
More than, No less than, Even more
こそ
For sure, For certain, Even more so, Underlined or bolded text
以上 ①
More than (or equal to), Over・(and) above, Any more・Greater, Exceeding

Example of より

あなた()(わたし)()より上手(じょうず)

Your paintings are better than mine.

月曜日(げつようび)より日曜日(にちようび)いい

Sunday is better than Monday.

日本語(にほんご)英語(えいご)より(はな)しにくい

Japanese is harder to speak than English.

いつも()んでいる(みず)より()

I like this (drink) more than the water that I usually drink.

スポーツするよりゲーム(ほう)(たの)しい

Video games are more exciting than sports.

Grammar same lesson

に (Frequency)

Times (In each time period), Every, Frequency of
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~る所(ところ)だ

About to, On the verge of
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毎(ごと)に

Each, Every, At intervals of
See detailsreport

と思(おも)う

I think
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そう

Look like, Appear, Seem, Have a feeling that
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