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In Japanese, when making a comparison, the adjective keeps its original form.
There is no alteration, as in "great/greater."
The comparison is expressed
by adding something to the noun. |
| ほう |
/side/ |
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hoo |
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| より |
than, /comparing/ |
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yori |
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| AのほうがBより(property)。 |
A is more (property) than B. |
| A-no hoo-ga B-yori (property), |
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エルビス・プレスリー の ほうが
フランク・シナトラ より
かっこいい です。 |
Elvis Presley is more hip than Frank Sinatra. |
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Erubisu-Puresurii no hoo-ga
Furanku kamiatoru yori
kakkoii desu. |
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バーブラ・ストレイザンド の ほうが
マドンナ より
歌が 上手 です。 |
Barbara Streisand is better singer than Madonna. |
Baabura-Sutoreizando mo hoo-ga
Madonna yori
uta-ga joozu desu. |
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You can ask for another person's opinion on two things in
comparative terms: |
| AとBと どっちの ほうが (property)。 |
Between A and B, which is more (property)? |
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A-to B-to docchino/dotchino hoo-ga (property). |
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バス と でんしゃ と
どっちの ほうが やすい です か。 |
Which is cheaper, going by bus or by train? |
Basu to densha to
docchi-no hoo-ga yasui desu ka? |
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When comparing three or more items, the degree qualifier
いちばん - ichiban ("first number") is used. |
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[(class of items) の中で] A が いちばん (property). |
A is the most (property) [among (a class of items)] |
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(class of items) no naka-de, A-ga ichiban (property) |
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やきそば と うどん と ごはん の なかで、
なにが いちばん すき です か。 |
Between yakisoba, udon, and rice, which do you like the best? |
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yakisoba to, udon to, gohan no naka-de,
nanika ichiban suki desu ka? |
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もちろん、ごはん が いちばん すき です
。 |
Naturally, the rice is my favorite "number
one". |
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mochiron, gohan ga ichiban suki desu. |
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When list of items presented, there is a
tendency to use dore (which?)/
When referring to group of objects collectively, there is a
tendency to use nani (what).
Compare: |
りんご と みかん と さくらんぼ の 中で、
どれ が いちばん 好き です か。 |
Which do you like best, apples, tangerines,
or cherries? |
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ringo to, mikan to, sakuranbo no naka-de,
dore-ga ichiiban suki desu ka? |
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くだもの の 中で、
何が いちばん 好き です か。 |
What fruit do you like best? |
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kudamono no naka de,
nani ga ichiiban suki desu ka? |
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