より means than; compared with. It is a JLPT N4 Japanese grammar pattern used to express this idea in natural Japanese.
This English meaning is chosen independently from the source-list gloss so it stays natural, concise, and useful for learners searching for より.
What does より mean?
Use より when you want to express than; compared with in a Japanese sentence.
Natural translations include:
- than; compared with
- than
- compared with
How to form より
Comparison target + より
Examples of the pattern:
- Comparison target + より
- より
- related form: ほうが
When is より used?
Use より in situations like:
- reading or writing JLPT N4-level sentences
- making a sentence more precise than a basic N5 pattern
- recognizing natural grammar in conversation, signs, or short passages
Tone and register:
- usually neutral unless the pattern itself is casual, formal, or written
- common in JLPT N4 grammar study and everyday Japanese
より example sentences
- 電車はバスより速いです。 — The train is faster than the bus.
- 今日は昨日より寒いです。 — Today is colder than yesterday.
- 私はコーヒーよりお茶が好きです。 — I like tea more than coffee.
- この本はあの本より分かりやすいです。 — This book is easier to understand than that one.
- 思ったより難しかったです。 — It was harder than I thought.
Nuance of より
The key nuance is than; compared with in context, not a word-for-word English replacement.
This matters because より can express ability, comparison, intention, appearance, effort, or difficulty depending on the surrounding sentence. Read the whole sentence before choosing the English translation.
より vs ほうが
Both patterns can appear in related sentences, but they do different jobs.
より:
- is the target JLPT N4 pattern in this lesson
- focuses on than; compared with
ほうが:
- is useful for comparison because learners often confuse nearby forms
- may change the tone, direction, evidence, or sentence focus
Quick contrast examples:
- Target pattern: 電車はバスより速いです。 — The train is faster than the bus.
- Related pattern with ほうが: compare what changes in difficulty, comparison, intention, appearance, or certainty.
Common mistakes with より
Watch out for these mistakes:
- Copying a dictionary gloss without checking the sentence context
- Using the wrong verb, adjective, or noun form
- Confusing より with ほうが because the English can sound similar
Is より on the JLPT?
Yes. より is connected to JLPT N4 grammar in this blog.
That means learners should be able to:
- recognize it in reading
- understand its nuance in context
- use it in simple original sentences
Practice questions for より
Try making your own sentences with these prompts:
- Write one short sentence using the basic structure.
- Replace the subject, time, or object and keep the same grammar point.
- Compare your sentence with the related pattern above.
Learn より with Kanjiru
If you want to review より together with kanji, vocabulary, and other JLPT N4 patterns, Kanjiru helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
Browse more lessons here: