Japanese for English speakers Street · Lesson 3

Comparisons

Compare two things in Japanese with ...より (... yori) and use 一番 for superlatives. Pattern: AはBより + adjective = 'A is more ... than B'.

Conversation

  1. Meera Meera

    コンビニと食堂と...

    konbini to shokudō to...

    Between the convenience store and the canteen...

    Tip: <[noun A] + to + [noun B] + to + dore ga + ichiban + [adjective]> = Which is the most ... between A and B?

  2. Kyle Kyle

    どれが一番と近いですか？

    dore ga ichiban chikai desu ka?

    which is closer?

    Tip: <chikai> = close, near to ("i" adjective)

  3. Meera Meera

    コンビニのほうが...

    konbini no hō ga...

    The convenience store...

    Tip: <[noun A] + no hō ga + [noun B] + yori + [adjective]> = A is more ... than B

  4. Meera Meera

    食堂より近いですよね

    shokudō yori chikai desu yone

    is closer than the canteen

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How do you compare two things in Japanese?

AはBより + adjective: コンビニは食堂より近い = 'the convenience store is closer than the canteen'.

How do you ask 'which is the most ...'?

AとBとどれが一番〜ですか — 'between A and B, which is most ...?'.

What does ...の方が ... mean?

'... is more ...' — Aの方がBより + adjective: コンビニの方が食堂より近い = 'the convenience store is closer than the canteen'.

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Japanese lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.

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