〜より〜ほうが (yori ~ hō ga)

JLPT N5

How to compare two things and say which one is more ~.

Meaning

“A is more ~ than B,” or “A rather than B.” Used to compare two options and state a preference.

Formation

• A のほうが B より + [adjective]

• Order is flexible: B より A のほうが〜

Examples

電車のほうがバスより速いです。

Densha no hō ga basu yori hayai desu. — The train is faster than the bus.

夏より冬のほうが好きです。

Natsu yori fuyu no hō ga suki desu. — I like winter more than summer.

今日のほうが昨日より暑い。

Kyō no hō ga kinō yori atsui. — Today is hotter than yesterday. (casual)

コーヒーより紅茶のほうがいいです。

Kōhī yori kōcha no hō ga ii desu. — I'd prefer tea to coffee.

How it works

より marks the thing you compare against (the “than” part). ほうが highlights the option you rank higher or prefer. The two phrases can swap order without changing the meaning.

To ask “which is more ~?”, use どちらのほうが〜ですか.

Compared with similar expressions

• AのほうがBより〜 — A is more ~ than B (comparison).

• 〜がいちばん〜 — the most ~ (superlative, 3+ things).

• どちらのほうが〜 — which is more ~? (question)

Common mistakes

• Keep の before ほうが with nouns: 電車のほうが (✗ 電車ほうが)

• Here より means “than,” not “from” — context decides.

Related grammar

• 〜がいちばん — the most (superlative)

• どちらのほうが — which is more?

• 〜と同じ — the same as