How to Say “N1 is More ~ Than N2” in Japanese | Using N1 no hou ga (のほうが) N2 yori (より)〜

level1 (N5)

Introduction

Want to compare things in Japanese?
Whether you’re saying:

  • “Coffee is more delicious than tea.”
  • “Spring is warmer than winter.”
  • “I like cats more than dogs.”

Japanese has a clear, simple way to say “N1 is more ~ than N2” using:

N1 のほうが N2 より + adjective

Let’s dive into how to compare two things naturally and accurately in Japanese!

1. Grammar Structure

Grammar Pattern:

N1 のほうが N2 より + adjective

EnglishJapanese
Spring is warmer than winter.春はるのほうが冬ふゆより暖あたたかいです。
I like sushi more than tempura.すしのほうが天てんぷらより好すきです。
Canada is colder than Japan.カナダのほうが日本にほんより寒さむいです。

This structure means: N1 is more ~ than N2.

2. How It Works

  • N1 のほうが = “As for N1, comparatively speaking…”
  • N2 より = “compared to N2”
  • Add an adjective like たかい (expensive), はやい (fast), or おいしい (delicious)

Example:

  • カタカナのほうがひらがなより難むずかしいです。
    = Katakana is more difficult than Hiragana.
  • ジョンさんのほうがエミリーさんより元気げんきです。
    = John is more energetic than Emily.

3. Asking “Which is more ~?”

To ask which one is more ~, use:

N1 と N2、どちらのほうが 〜 ですか？

EnglishJapanese
Dogs or cats — which do you like better?犬いぬと猫ねこ、どちらのほうが好すきですか。
Flying or taking the train — which is cheaper?飛行機ひこうきと電車でんしゃ、どちらのほうが安やすいですか。
English or Japanese — which is more difficult?英語えいごと日本語にほんご、どちらのほうが難むずかしいですか。

💬 You can answer:

  • 猫ねこのほうが好すきです。= I like cats better.
  • 電車でんしゃのほうが安やすいです。= Train is cheaper.
  • 日本語にほんごのほうが難むずかしいです。= Japanese is more difficult.

4. Practice Time!

Compare the following pairs using N1 のほうが N2 より〜:

ComparisonAnswer
秋あきと冬ふゆ／暖あたたかい (fall, winter / warm)秋のほうが冬より暖かいです。
すしとそば／高たかい (sushi, soba / expensive)すしのほうがそばより高いです。
飛行機ひこうきとバス ／速はやい (Planes, buses / fast)飛行機のほうがバスより速いです。

5. FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Q
Can I drop のほう? Ex: いぬがねこよりすきです。= I like dogs rather than cats.
A

Technically yes, but it’s clearer and more natural with のほうが, especially in beginner and polite speech. Ex: いぬのほうがねこよりすきです。

Q
Is there a difference in nuance between using 「～より」 and 「～に くらべて」 (ni kurabete – compared to)?
A

While both 「より」 and 「に くらべて」 can be used for comparisons, 「より」 is generally more direct and common in this specific grammar pattern (N1 のほうが N2 より + adjective). 「に くらべて」 is a bit more formal and often used to set up a broader comparison. In most cases with this structure, 「より」 is the more natural choice.
Example: 昨年さくねんにくらべて、今年ことしの気温きおんは2℃上昇じょうしょうした。= Compared to last year, temperatures this year increased by 2°C.

Q
How can I say “N1 is much more ~ than N2”?
A

You can add adverbs of degree before the adjective to express the extent of the difference. Common adverbs include:

  • ずっと (zutto): much more, far more
    Example: わたしより、田中先生たなかせんせいのほうがずっと年上としうえです。= Dr. Tanaka is much older than I am.
  • はるかに (haruka ni): far more, greatly
    Example: 今回こんかいのJLPTは、前回ぜんかいのよりはるかにかんたんでした。= This JLPT was much easier than the last one.
  • もっと (motto): more (can also be used in place of 「のほうが」 in informal speech when asking for preference)
    Example: ケンさんは、タケシさんよりもっと背せが高たかいです。= Ken is even taller than Takeshi.

6. Conclusion

Now you can:

✅ Compare two things in Japanese
✅ Ask “which is more ~?”
✅ Use のほうが and より like a pro!

🎯 Try this: Make 3 comparisons using this pattern. For example:

  • 夏と冬、どちらのほうが好きですか？
  • コーヒーと紅茶、どちらのほうが高いですか？

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