Japanese, like many languages, has prepositions that are used to compare two or more things. These prepositions play a crucial role in expressing comparisons and making statements about the relative qualities, quantities, or degrees of different items. In this guide, we will explore the various prepositions of comparison in Japanese, their usage, and provide example sentences to illustrate their application.
より (yori) – “than”
The preposition より (yori) is commonly used in Japanese to indicate a comparison between two things, where one thing is of a higher or lower degree than the other. It is similar to the English word “than” and is often used to express comparative superiority or inferiority.
Example Sentences:
私は猫より犬が好きです。(Watashi wa neko yori inu ga suki desu.) – I like dogs more than cats.
彼女は私より背が高いです。(Kanojo wa watashi yori se ga takai desu.) – She is taller than me.
よりも (yorimo) – “more than”
The preposition よりも (yorimo) is an extension of より (yori) and is used to emphasize a stronger degree of comparison. It can be translated as “more than” in English.
Example Sentences:
彼は私よりも速く走れます。(Kare wa watashi yorimo hayaku hashiremasu.) – He can run faster than me.
私たちは友達よりも家族だと思います。(Watashitachi wa tomodachi yorimo kazoku da to omoimasu.) – I believe we are more like family than friends.
と (to) – “as…as”
The preposition と (to) is used to express a comparison of equality, indicating that two things are the same or equal in a certain aspect. It can be translated as “as…as” in English.
Example Sentences:
彼は私と同じくらいの年齢です。(Kare wa watashi to onaji kurai no nenrei desu.) – He is the same age as me.
このレストランは他の店と比べても同じくらい良いです。(Kono resutoran wa hoka no mise to kurabete mo onaji kurai ii desu.) – This restaurant is as good as other shops, even in comparison.
より…のほうが (yori…no hō ga) – “more…than”
The structure より…のほうが (yori…no hō ga) is used to express a comparative degree of difference, where one thing is “more” or “less” in a certain aspect than another. It can be translated as “more…than” or “less…than” in English.
Example Sentences:
この本は昨日のほうが面白いです。(Kono hon wa kinō no hō ga omoshiroi desu.) – This book is more interesting than yesterday’s.
日本の夏はアメリカの夏よりも暑いです。(Nihon no natsu wa Amerika no natsu yori mo atsui desu.) – The summer in Japan is hotter than the summer in America.
より…方が (yori…hō ga) – “it is better to…”
The structure より…方が (yori…hō ga) is used to express a preference or recommendation by indicating that it is better to do one thing over another. It can be translated as “it is better to…” in English.
Example Sentences:
バスよりも電車の方が便利です。(Basu yori mo densha no hō ga benri desu.) – It is better to take a train than a bus because it is more convenient.
遅刻しないためには、早めに出発する方がいいですよ。(Chikoku shinai tame ni wa, hayame ni shuppatsu suru hō ga ii desu yo.) – It is better to leave early to avoid being late.
These prepositions of comparison in Japanese provide a framework for expressing comparative relationships between different objects or ideas. By mastering these prepositions, learners can enhance their ability to communicate comparisons accurately and effectively in Japanese. Remember to practice using these prepositions in context to develop a natural and fluent understanding of their usage.
Originally posted 2023-07-13 17:27:07.