より (yori)
Used in comparisons to mean 'than'; also 'rather than' or 'more than what exists now'
Meaning & usage
より marks the standard of comparison and means than or rather than, used when stating that one thing has more of a quality like size, age, or goodness than another. It follows a noun phrase directly, as in 父より or インドの人口よりも, with the contrasting adjective at the end of the sentence. Adding も gives extra emphasis, and ずっと, はるかに, or もっと are commonly placed before the adjective to express a much greater degree.
Example sentences 5
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これはあれよりも小さい。
This is smaller than that.
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ただより高いものはありません。
You never get something for nothing.
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母は父より年上です。
Mom is older than Dad.
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中国の人口はインドの人口よりも多い。
The population of China is larger than that of India.
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父さんは母さんより2つ下なんだ。
My father is two years younger than my mother is.