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JLPT N3 · Degree & extent

よりも (yorimo)

～よりも — “more than ～ / rather than ～”

In short · Gives the standard of comparison: “more than ～.” より marks what is compared against, and も adds emphasis. It follows a noun or a plain-form phrase, and the main clause often has ほう or a comparative idea. Slightly more emphatic than plain より.
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Pattern

  • 名詞＋よりも＋B（のほうが）… B is more … than the noun
  • 動詞・形容詞 普通形＋よりも rather than doing ～ / than being ～
  • 疑問詞（何・だれ など）＋よりも more than anything / anyone

Basic comparison

A よりも B のほうが～ means B is more ～ than A. In 去年よりも今年のほうが忙しい the standard (去年) comes first and the chosen one (今年) takes のほうが.

Comparing actions

To compare actions, put the plain form before よりも: 話すよりも、書くほうが伝えやすい. It means “writing is easier than speaking.” The verbs here are in the dictionary form.

Superlative with a question word

何よりも, だれよりも, どこよりも all mean “more than anything / anyone / anywhere else”, i.e. the most. 何よりも健康が大切だ is a common phrase for “health comes first.”

Examples

  • 去年（きょねん）よりも今年（ことし）のほうが忙（いそが）しい。

    Kyonen yorimo kotoshi no hou ga isogashii.

    This year is busier than last year.

  • 話（はな）すよりも、書（か）くほうが自分（じぶん）の考（かんが）えを伝（つた）えやすい。

    Hanasu yorimo, kaku hou ga jibun no kangae o tsutae yasui.

    It’s easier to convey my thoughts by writing than by speaking.

  • 何（なに）よりも、まず健康（けんこう）が大切（たいせつ）だ。

    Nani yorimo, mazu kenkou ga taisetsu da.

    More than anything, health comes first.

Common mistakes

  • よりも goes after the thing that loses the comparison, not the winner: 去年よりも今年 (this year is higher).
  • With a question word, よりも gives a superlative meaning; do not translate it as a plain comparison.

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