Japanese Grammar – Making Comparisons

Japanese Grammar: Making Comparisons in Japanese – Review Notes

Today we learned how to make comparisons in Japanese using 方が (hō ga) and より (yori). In this review, we will go over today’s grammar lesson and see some more examples (◕ω◕)♪

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How to Make Comparisons in Japanese

★　Let’s learn how to make comparisons in Japanese!

★　To compare two items or activities, use the sentence pattern: AよりB(の)方がCです。(A yori B (no) hō ga C desu.)

★　If you want to say something is more fun, big, interesting, etc. than something else or if you want to say you like something more than something else, you should use this pattern.

★　In this sentence pattern, B is emphasized or preferred over A.

★　A and B can be nouns or verbs. C can be a verb or an adjective.

★　When you compare verbs, use the dictionary form (also called the plain form) of the verb.

★　When you compare verbs, do not use the particle の (no) in front of 方が (hō ga).

★　When you compare nouns, you must use the particle の (no) in front of 方が (hō ga).

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Examples where A and B are Nouns:

牛乳よりジュースの方が好きです。

gyūnyū yori jūsu no hō ga suki desu.

I like juice more than milk.

日本よりカナダの方が大きいです。

Nihon yori kanada no hō ga ōkii desu.

Canada is bigger than Japan.

ゴルフよりテニスの方が楽しいです。

Gorufu yori tenisu no hō ga tanoshii desu.

Tennis is more fun than Golf.

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Examples where A and B are Verbs:

スポーツは見るよりする方が楽しいです。

Supōtsu wa miru yori suru hō ga tanoshii desu.

It is more fun to play sports then to watch them.

料理は作るより食べる方が好きです。

Ryōri wa tsukuru yori taberu hō ga suki desu.

I like eating more than cooking.

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★　When it is obvious from the context, you can leave out A and just say B(の)方がCです。(B (no) hō ga C desu.)

★　For example, if somebody asks you:

カナダと日本とどちらの方が大きいですか。

Kanada to nihon to dochira no hō ga ōkii desu ka

Which is bigger: Canada or Japan?

★　You can simply respond:

カナダの方が大きいです。

Kanada no hō ga ōkii desu.

Canada is bigger.

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Additional Example Sentences:

Example 1:

山より海の方が行きたいです。

Yama yori umi no hō ga ikitai desu.

I want to go to the sea more than the mountains.

Example 2:

音楽は作るより聞く方が好きです。

Ongaku wa tsukuru yori kiku hō ga suki desu.

I like listening to music more than making it.

Example 3:

自転車より車の方が欲しいです。

Jitensha yori kuruma no hō ga hoshii desu.

I want a car more than a bike.

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Conclusion:

Today we learned how to make comparisons in Japanese using the sentence pattern AよりB(の)方がCです。(A yori B (no) hō ga C desu.) If you have any questions, leave a comment below (◕ω◕)♪