は〜より・・・です
🃏 Flashcard
は〜より・・・です
wa ~yori... desu
Tap to reveal usage
[A] is more ~ than [B]
N5
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📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N5
Beginner · Basic sentence structures
Reading
wa ~yori... desu
Post ID
50677
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
[A] is more ~ than [B]
📖 How to use it
A and B comparison using は and より to state that A is more [adjective] than B.
Attaches to
Noun A + は + Noun B + より + adjective + です. The adjective can be an い-adjective (e.g., 高い) or a な-adjective with です (e.g., 好きです).
This is the basic pattern for comparing two things. The topic marked with は is the subject of the comparison, and the item marked with より is the standard of comparison. The adjective comes at the end. For example, to say 'Apples are cheaper than oranges,' you say りんごはみかんよりやすいです. Note that より follows the second item, not the first.
The pattern works with both い-adjectives and な-adjectives. With い-adjectives, you use the adjective directly (e.g., 大きい). With な-adjectives, you add です after the adjective (e.g., きれいです). The pattern is used in both speaking and writing, and is perfectly polite and natural for everyday conversation.
私はあなたより年上です。
Watashi wa anata yori toshiue desu.
I am older than you.
この本はあの本よりおもしろいです。
Kono hon wa ano hon yori omoshiroi desu.
This book is more interesting than that book.
今日は昨日より暑いですね。
Kyō wa kinō yori atsui desu ne.
Today is hotter than yesterday, isn't it?
Not よりのほうが (AよりBのほうが...です)
The pattern は〜より puts the topic first (AはBより...). If you want to emphasize the subject of comparison, you can say BのほうがAより...です, which means the same but puts B first.
Register
Neutral and common in both spoken and written Japanese; polite enough for most situations.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
は〜より・・・です
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat は〜より・・・です three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using は〜より・・・です. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N5 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern は〜より・・・です mean?
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[A] is more ~ than [B]
What JLPT level is は〜より・・・です?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N5 — Beginner · Basic sentence structures. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use は〜より・・・です in a sentence?
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Attach は〜より・・・です (wa ~yori... desu) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is は〜より・・・です formal or casual Japanese?
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は〜より・・・です is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember は〜より・・・です long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.