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Revision as of 17:54, 29 March 2023
◀️ Adverb Types and Usage — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Adjective and Adverbial Modification ▶️ |
As a Japanese language teacher with 20 years of experience, I can assure you that understanding how to express comparison and superlative in Japanese is essential for effective communication. In this lesson, we will learn how to use the basic patterns ~より~ and ~で一番~ to express comparison and superlative, along with some interesting cultural information.
Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: Particle は and が & Introduction to Japanese Sentence Structure.
Comparison using ~より~
Comparisons in Japanese are formed using the pattern ~より~. This pattern is used to compare two things and identify which one has more or less of a certain quality. The particle より is used to indicate that the second noun or adjective is being compared to the first one.
For example:
Japanese | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
私より背が高い | watashi yori se ga takai | taller than me |
犬より猫が好き | inu yori neko ga suki | like cats more than dogs |
彼女より私が速い | kanojo yori watashi ga hayai | faster than her |
子供より大人が好き | kodomo yori otona ga suki | like adults more than children |
Note that the first noun or adjective should be followed by the particle より, but the second one doesn't need any particle.
Also, you can use the adjective in its base form, without any conjugation. Just place it before the particle より.
Superlative using ~で一番~
To express a superlative in Japanese, we use the pattern ~で一番~. Here, the particle で is used to indicate the place or method of the comparison, and 一番 (いちばん) means "most" or "best".
For example:
Japanese | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
東京で一番大きい公園 | Tōkyō de ichiban ōkii kōen | the biggest park in Tokyo |
彼はクラスで一番優秀だ | kare wa kurasu de ichiban yūshū da | he is the most excellent in the class |
あのレストランはここで一番人気がある | ano resutoran wa koko de ichiban ninki ga aru | that restaurant is the most popular here |
私はこの曲が一番好きだ | watashi wa kono kyoku ga ichiban suki da | I like this song the most |
The adjective should be conjugated to its superlative form with the suffix ~い+EST. Note that this pattern is commonly used in conjunction with the particle で, which indicates the location, method, or means of the comparison.
Tips and Tricks
- Special adjectives: Some adjectives have irregular comparatives, which means that their comparative form is different from their base form. For example, the adjective 良い (いい, good) becomes より良い (yori yoi) in its comparative form.
- The particle より can also be used as "than" in comparisons of time and quantity. For example: 五時より早く来てね (Goji yori hayaku kite ne, please come earlier than 5 o'clock).
- It's common in Japan to use the superlative pattern ~で一番~ to talk about rankings and contests such as sports, exams, or music shows.
Cultural insights
The Japanese culture values modesty and respect towards others, and this is reflected in the use of superlatives. Unlike Western cultures, where it's common to brag or boast about one's achievements, in Japan, it's more polite to downplay one's abilities or accomplishments. Therefore, it's essential to use these language patterns with care, especially in formal or professional settings where humility is highly appreciated.
Conclusion
In this lesson, we have learned how to express comparison and superlative in Japanese using the basic patterns ~より~ and ~で一番~. We have also explored some cultural insights that shed light on the social norms in Japan regarding the use of these patterns. Our next lesson will focus on how to modify adjectives and adverbs using the particle に and ~く.
I hope that you found this lesson helpful and enjoyable. Please keep practicing and exploring the Japanese language, and don't hesitate to ask me any questions you may have.
Sources
- Japanese/Grammar/Comparisons - Wikibooks, open books for an ...
- Lesson 15. How to Express Superlative in Japanese - LingoCards
- Japanese Comparison: より, …の方が, and …で一番
Great work on completing this lesson! Take a moment to investigate these connected pages: Adjective Conjugation & How to Use Have.
Videos
Comparative and Superlative Adjectives in Japanese - YouTube
【GENKI L10】ほう MORE in Japanese - Make comparisons ...
Other Lessons
- Hiragana Reading and Writing Practice
- Question Words and Phrases
- Particles へ and を
- Adjective Conjugation
- Exclamation and Impression Expressions
- Adjectives (形容詞)
- Adjectives
- How to Use Be
- Adjective and Adverbial Modification
- Questions
◀️ Adverb Types and Usage — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Adjective and Adverbial Modification ▶️ |