よりも
🃏 Flashcard
よりも
yorimo
Tap to reveal usage
rather than~; more than~
N3
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N3
Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast
Reading
yorimo
Post ID
50985
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
rather than~; more than~
📖 How to use it
Used to compare two things, emphasizing one over the other, meaning 'rather than' or 'more than'.
Attaches to
Attaches to the noun, verb dictionary form, or adjective (i-adjective or na-adjective stem) directly. For verbs, use the plain dictionary form; for i-adjectives, use the plain form; for na-adjectives, attach to the stem (without な).
よりも is a comparison particle that adds emphasis to the thing being compared against. It is often used to express a preference or a stronger degree of something. When used with nouns, it simply means 'more than [noun]' or 'rather than [noun]'. When used with verbs or adjectives, it often implies a choice of action or state over another.
In speech, you will often hear it shortened to より in casual conversation, but よりも is more emphatic and slightly more formal. It works in both spoken and written Japanese, but is especially common in written essays, speeches, and formal statements to highlight a contrast.
時間よりも、質が大事だ。
Jikan yorimo, shitsu ga daiji da.
Quality is more important than time.
買うよりも、借りるほうがいいと思う。
Kau yorimo, kariru hou ga ii to omou.
I think borrowing is better than buying.
彼は話すよりも、聞くほうが好きだ。
Kare wa hanasu yorimo, kiku hou ga suki da.
He prefers listening to speaking.
Not より
より is the shorter form and is used in the same way, but よりも adds emphasis and is slightly more formal. In casual conversation, より is more common. For example, 時間より質が大事 is less emphatic than 時間よりも質が大事.
Register
Neutral to slightly formal; used in both speech and writing, but more emphatic than より, making it common in written essays and formal speeches.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
よりも
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat よりも 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 よりも. 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 N3 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern よりも mean?
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Rather than~; more than~
What JLPT level is よりも?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use よりも in a sentence?
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Attach よりも (yorimo) 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 よりも formal or casual Japanese?
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よりも is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember よりも 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.