Comparisons

Learn how to compare things in Japanese using より, のほう, and 一番.

Comparing in Japanese

Japanese uses a different word order from English when making comparisons. Instead of saying 'A is bigger than B,' Japanese says 'Compared to B, A is bigger' — placing the reference point first with the particle より.

There are three main comparison patterns: comparing two things (より / のほうが), stating a preference between two options (のほうが with a question), and expressing the superlative (一番). Adjectives in these patterns stay in their base form — Japanese does not have suffix changes like English '-er' or '-est.'

Comparing Two Things with より

より means 'compared to' or 'than.' It attaches to the thing being compared against (the lesser item). The basic pattern is:

A は B より [adjective] です('A is more [adjective] than B')

Examples

今日は昨日より暑いです。
Today is hotter than yesterday.
日本語は英語より難しいです。
Japanese is more difficult than English.
電車はバスより速いです。
Trains are faster than buses.
この本はあの本よりおもしろいです。
This book is more interesting than that book.

Expressing Preference with のほうが

のほうが emphasizes which side is 'more' of something. It can be used alone or together with より for clarity. The pattern is:

A のほうが (B より) [adjective] です('A is more [adjective] (than B)')

When both items are already clear from context, より can be dropped.

Examples

肉のほうが魚より好きです。
I like meat more than fish.
夏のほうが冬より好きです。
I like summer more than winter.
こっちのほうが安いです。
This one is cheaper.
歩くのほうがバスより健康にいいです。
Walking is better for your health than taking the bus.

Asking for Comparisons with どちら

To ask 'which is more...?' between two things, use どちら (or the casual どっち). The pattern is:

A と B とどちらのほうが [adjective] ですか('Which is more [adjective], A or B?')

The answer typically uses のほうが.

Examples

コーヒーと紅茶と、どちらのほうが好きですか。
コーヒーのほうが好きです。
Which do you prefer, coffee or tea? — I prefer coffee.
東京と大阪と、どちらのほうが大きいですか。
東京のほうが大きいです。
Which is bigger, Tokyo or Osaka? — Tokyo is bigger.
バスと電車と、どっちが速い？
電車のほうが速いよ。
Which is faster, the bus or the train? — The train is faster.

Superlative with 一番

一番 (いちばん) means 'number one' or 'most.' It goes directly before the adjective to create the superlative. The group being compared is marked with で.

A は [group] で一番 [adjective] です('A is the most [adjective] in [group]')

Examples

富士山は日本で一番高い山です。
Mt. Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan.
この店で一番安いのはどれですか。
Which is the cheapest one in this store?
クラスで一番背が高いのは田中さんです。
The tallest person in the class is Tanaka.
一年で一番好きな季節は春です。
My favorite season of the year is spring.

Asking 'What Is the Most...?'

To ask for the superlative, use 何 / どこ / だれ / いつ with 一番:

[group] で一番 [adjective] のは何/だれ/どこですか

Examples

日本で一番有名な食べ物は何ですか。
寿司だと思います。
What is the most famous food in Japan? — I think it's sushi.
世界で一番高い山はどこですか。
エベレストです。
Where is the tallest mountain in the world? — It's Everest.
家族で一番早く起きるのはだれですか。
父が一番早く起きます。
Who wakes up earliest in your family? — My father wakes up earliest.

Expressing Equality with と同じくらい

To say two things are about equal, use と同じくらい (to onaji kurai):

A は B と同じくらい [adjective] です('A is about as [adjective] as B')

Examples

東京は大阪と同じくらい暑いです。
Tokyo is about as hot as Osaka.
兄は父と同じくらい背が高いです。
My older brother is about as tall as my father.
この問題はあの問題と同じくらい難しいです。
This problem is about as difficult as that one.