Comparisons in Japanese: Say Bigger, Better and the Most

Comparatives: より, のほうが, いちばん

高い stays the same; より after 東京タワー does all the comparing.

Short answer: Japanese adjectives have no “-er” or “-est” form. Instead, より marks what you compare against: A は B より高い, “A is taller than B”. To ask which of two, use どちらが, and answer with のほうが. For “the most”, put いちばん (number one) before the adjective.

A は B より: “A is more … than B”

Any adjective works. The adjective itself does not change.

今日きょうkyōtodayはwa(topic)昨日きのうkinōyesterdayよりyorithan寒いさむいsamuicoldですdesu(polite)

Kyō wa kinō yori samui desu.“Today is colder than yesterday.”Why: より after the thing compared against.

電車でんしゃdenshatrainはwa(topic)バスbasubusよりyorithan速いはやいhayaifastですdesu(polite)

Densha wa basu yori hayai desu.“The train is faster than the bus.”Why: 速い for speed, 早い for early.

兄あにanimy brotherはwa(topic)私わたしwatashimeよりyorithan背せseheightがga(subject)高いたかいtakaitallですdesu(polite)

Ani wa watashi yori se ga takai desu.“My brother is taller than me.”Why: 背が高い: “height is tall”, the は…が pattern.

Which of two? どちら and のほうが

Ask with A と B とどちらが…, and answer with X のほうが…, “X’s side is more…”.

犬いぬinudogsとtoand猫ねこnekocatsとtoandどちらdochirawhichがga(subject)好きですかすきですかsuki desu kado you like?

Inu to neko to dochira ga suki desu ka. · “Which do you like better, dogs or cats?”どちら for a choice of two.

猫ねこnekocatsのno’sほうhōsideがga(subject)好きですすきですsuki desulike

Neko no hō ga suki desu. · “I prefer cats.”のほうが: “the cat side”.

夏なつnatsusummerとtoand冬ふゆfuyuwinterどっちdotchiwhich (casual)がga(subject)いいiigood

Natsu to fuyu, dotchi ga ii? · “Summer or winter, which is better?”どっち is casual どちら.

どちらもdochira moboth好きですすきですsuki desulike

Dochira mo suki desu. · “I like both.”どちらも: both.

The most: いちばん

Set the group with の中で (among) and put いちばん before the adjective.

The same and as … as

同じ (the same), ぐらい (about as) and ほど with a negative (not as … as).

兄あにanimy brotherとtoand私わたしwatashiIはwa(topic)背せseheightがga(subject)同じおなじonajisameですdesuis

Ani to watashi wa se ga onaji desu.“My brother and I are the same height.”Why:

東京とうきょうTōkyōTokyoはwa(topic)大阪おおさかŌsakaOsakaほどhodoas much as暑くないあつくないatsukunainot hot

Tōkyō wa Ōsaka hodo atsukunai.“Tokyo isn’t as hot as Osaka.”Why: ほど + negative.

彼かれkareheはwa(topic)プロpuroa proとtowith同じぐらいおなじぐらいonaji guraiabout as much上手じょうずjōzuskilled

Kare wa puro to onaji gurai jōzu.“He’s about as good as a pro.”Why: 同じぐらい: about the same.

The more…, the more…

ば form + same verb + ほど: the more you do, the more…

Choosing between options

Asking and answering which one.

お茶おちゃochateaとtoandコーヒーkōhīcoffeeとtoandどちらdochirawhichがga(subject)いいですかii desu kais better?

Ocha to kōhī to dochira ga ii desu ka. · “Which would you prefer, tea or coffee?”

コーヒーkōhīcoffeeのno’s方ほうhōsideがga(subject)いいですii desuis better

Kōhī no hō ga ii desu. · “Coffee, please.”〜の方: the … one.

この中このなかkono nakaamong theseでdeinどれdorewhichがga(subject)一番いちばんichibanmost人気にんきninkipopularですかdesu kais?

Kono naka de dore ga ichiban ninki desu ka. · “Which of these is most popular?”

これkorethisですdesuis

Kore desu. · “This one.”

Cheat sheet: comparing in Japanese

The five patterns you need.

Pattern	Meaning	Example
A wa B yori ~	A is more ~ than B	東京は大阪より大きい
B yori A no hō ga ~	A is more ~ (than B)	犬より猫の方が好き
~ no naka de ~ ga ichiban	the most ~ of	果物の中でりんごが一番好き
A wa B hodo ~ nai	A is not as ~ as B	今日は昨日ほど寒くない
A to B wa onaji	A and B are the same	値段は同じ

Check yourself

Say each one in Japanese, then open the answer to check and hear it.

The train is faster than the bus.
Show answer
Densha wa basu yori hayai desu.
Which do you prefer, tea or coffee?
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Ocha to kōhī to dochira ga suki desu ka.
Summer is the season I like most.
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Kisetsu no naka de natsu ga ichiban suki desu.
Today isn’t as hot as yesterday.
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Kyō wa kinō hodo atsukunai desu.

As … as, and not as … as

同じくらい means “about the same”. ほど with a negative means “not as … as”.

About the same

Not as … as

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