How to use the Yori Japanese Grammar Rule: 7+ Variations

Oh hi.

Wondering how the yori Japanese grammar works?

Or the yori houga grammar variation?

Good!  You’re at the right place.

This guide will teach you all about the yori Japanese grammar rule. And you’ll get examples to help drill int the meanings and usages of each form and variation below. But, to get you started, yori is  mostly used for..

  1. To make comparisons
  2. To give advice
  3. To say “from”
  4. To say “it depends”

But, let’s jump in,

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Rule #1 Object A + Yori + Object B

  • like saying “than” or “compared to”

yoru japanese grammar

When comparing two objects, yori can be extremely useful. This acts like “than” or “compared to” in English. However, in Japanese, the meaning is flipped. If you’re trying to say “I like A compared to B” you would need to say B より A が好き (B yori A ga suki). After putting yori between two objects you can give more context afterward. For example, you can say “I want to eat sushi compared to steak.”, which would be ステーキより寿司が食べたい。(sushi yori steeki ga tabetai).

コーヒーより紅茶が飲みたい。
– koohii yori koucha ga nomitai.
– I want to drink black tea compared to coffee.

数学より理科が好き。
– suugaku yori rika ga suki.
– I like math compared to science.

映画よりアニメを見る。
– eiga yori anime o miru.
– I watch anime compared to movies.

ケーキよりアイスクリームが食べたい。
– Keeki yori aisu kuriimu ga tabetai.
– I want to eat ice cream compared to cake.

Rule #2 Object A + wa + Object B + Yori + adjective

  • Saying A is (adjective) compared to B

yoru japanese grammar

Another common way to use yori is by first comparing the objects using wa and then adding an adjective after yori. In English, it would be like “A is (adjective) compared to B”. This makes a sentence that easily compares two objects with an adjective. For example, you can compare the U.S. and Japan using the adjective, “big”. This would look like アメリカは日本より大きい (amerika wa nihon yori ookii) or “The U.S. is bigger compared to Japan”. Just like when yori was used between two objects, now the object and the adjective are also flipped compared to English grammar.

アニメは漫画より面白い。
– Anime wa manga yori omoshiroi.
– Anime is more interesting than manga.

車は自転車よりはやい。
– kuruma wa jitensha yori hayai.
– Cars are faster than bicycles.

図書館はカフェよりしずか。
– Toshokan wa kafe yori shizuka.
– Libraries are quieter than cafes.

猫は犬より可愛い。
– Neko wa inu yori kawaii.
– cats are cuter than dogs.

Rule #3 Yori + adjective

  • Comparing to your present state

yoru japanese grammar

Sometimes you can also make sentences where there is no object to compare with. It implies that you’re comparing it to your present state. For example, よりはやく走りたいです。(yori hayau hashiritai desu), means “I would like to run even faster”. It’s implied that you’re talking about “faster” compared to your current athletic abilities. You’ll hear this often when people are trying to talk about how they want to improve themselves.

より高い点数をとりたいです。
– Yori takai tensuu o tori taidesu.
– I want to get an even higher score.

より高い記録を残すために頑張ります。
– yori takai kiroku wo nokosu tame ni ganbarimasu.
– I’ll work hard to get an even higher record.

より素晴らしい商品を作ります。
– Yori subarashii shouhin o tsukuri masu.
– I’ll make an even more amazing product.

より難しいパズルを作ります。
– Yori muzukashii pazuru o tsukuri masu.
– I’ll make an even harder puzzle.

Rule #4 Name + yori

  • saying “from” in Japanese

Japanese people sign off letters with their name and yori. Since yori is normally used to compare things, it can be confusing if you see this at the end of a letter. It’s like someone writing “From” in English to sign off letters. This is usually a casual sign-off.

ともこより
– tomoko yori
– From Tomoko

田中まりこより
– tanaka mariko yori
– From Mariko Tanaka

Rule #5 Ni + yori + masu

  • It depends.

yoru japanese grammar

This is a very specific grammar form that appears when you want to say “depends on”. It actually comes from yoru so it shouldn’t be confused with forms for yori which are used for comparisons. This is used in polite form where you would end with masu. For example, you can say “it depends on tomorrow’s weather” which is 明日の天気によります。(ashita no tenki ni yori masu).

今日の結果によります。
– Kyou no kekka ni yori masu.
– It depends on today’s results.

パソコンの機能によります。
– Pasokon no kinou ni yorimasu.
– It depends on the computer’s functionalities.

明日の予定によります。
– Ashita no yotei ni yorimasu.
– It depends on tomorrow’s schedule.

Rule #6 Yori + mo

  • Emphasize the comparison.

yoru japanese grammar

Yori mo is useful when you want to emphasize the comparison. It works in the same way as when you’re comparing two things or with an adjective. A common way to use it is with “dare” which means “whoever”, “anyone”, or “everyone”. For example, “I want to run faster than everyone” would be 誰よりも早く走りたい。(dare yori mo hayaku hashiritai).

It’s also useful when you’re comparing yourself to someone else. For example, you can say ともこよりもいい成績とる。(tomoko yori mo ii seiseki toru) or “I’ll get a better grade than Tomoko”. However, when using other people as a comparison it can sound childish or rude so you should only use it with people you’re close with.

誰よりも深く潜りたいです。
– Dare yori mo fukaku moguritai desu.
– I want to dive deeper than anyone else.

誰よりも上手に踊りたい。
– Dare yori mo jouzu ni odoritai.
– I want to dance better than anyone else.

まりこよりも上手に泳ぎたい。
– Mariko yori mo jouzu ni oyogi tai.
– I want to swim better than Mariko.

Rule #7 Verb + yori no hou ga ii

  • Giving advice when comparing 2 things.

yoru japanese grammar

Verbs can also go before yori to show comparison. This is useful when you’re giving advice or when two actions are compared. For example, パソコンを買うより、電話の方がいいと思うよ。(pasokon o kau yori, denwa no hou ga ii to omou yo) or “Rather than buying a computer, I think a phone would be better”.

肉を食べるより、野菜の方がいいよ。
– Niku o taberu yori, yasai no hou ga iiyo.
– Rather than eating meat, I think it’s better to eat vegetables.

遊びに行くより、勉強した方がいいと思うよ。
– Asobi ni iku yori, benkyou shita hou ga iito omouyo.
– Rather than going out, I think you should study.

ゲームをするより、掃除をした方がいいよ。
– Geemu o suru yori, souji o shita hou ga iiyo.
– Rather than playing video games, you should clean.

Conclusion – Back to You.

Now, I hope you have a decent idea of how this yori Japanese grammar rule is used.

  1. To make comparisons
  2. To give advice
  3. To say “from”
  4. To say “it depends”

If you want to practice, leave a comment.

Or, read through the rules some more.

If you want to save this page, go ahead and print it out.

Either way, thanks for reading and for learning Japanese with Linguajunkie.

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