Kodomo yori omoi desu
In this lesson, you will learn how to compare things in Japanese. Unlike in English, adjectives themselves do not change to indicate comparison. To compare things in Japanese, you add より (yori) to the object being compared. This structure helps to clearly express the comparative relationship.
Particle “yori”
- Kono ringo wa ano ringo yori ookii desu (This apple is bigger than that apple.)
- Kono danberu wa kodomo yori omoi desu (This dumbbell is heavier than a child.)
- Kodomo wa kono danberu yori karui desu (A child is lighter than this dumbbell. ）
By adding より, you can easily make comparisons without altering the adjectives themselves.
より (yori) is added after the object that needs to be compared, then inserted into the sentence accordingly. When emphasizing a subject in comparisons, you use のほうが (no hou ga) with the subject. Here, ほう (hou) carries the meaning of “direction” or “side,” indicating a comparative directionality.
- Kono ringo nohouga ano ringo yori ookii desu (This apple is bigger than that apple.)
- Kono danberu nohouga kodomo yori omoi desu (This dumbbell is heavier than a child.)
- Kodomo nohouga kono danberu yori karui desu (A child is lighter than this dumbbell. ）
ichiban
“The most” is expressed in Japanese with いちばん (ichiban), which is placed before adjectives to indicate the superlative degree. This structure helps specify something as “the most” or “the best” in comparison to others. For example:
- Kono danberu wa ichiban omoi desu. (This dumbbell is the most heavy.)
The words below are not comparative words, but rather used to express different degrees of adjectives:
- sugoi, sugoku: Used to express “very” or “extremely”. Example: Sugoku ureshii desu. (I am very happy.)
- kekkou, nakanaka: Used to indicate a certain extent or degree. Example: Kekkou muzukashii desu. (It’s quite difficult.)
- chotto: Used to express a little or a slight amount. Example: Chotto tsukaremashita. (I’m a little tired.)
Word
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| kodomo | child, children |
| omoi | heavy: い-adj |
| karui | light: い-adj |
| danberu | dumbbell |
| soudesu | yes, you are right |
| soudesuka? | is it?, is it true? |
| demo | but |
| shuunyuu | income |
| yasashisa | kindness, tenderness |
| daiji | important: noun-adj |
| jaa | well, then |
| tokoro | place, point |
| omoshiroi | funny, interesting |
| …no nakade | in …, of … |
Expressions
Satou says:
Watashi wa jasutinsan yori kakkoii desu.
Suzuki says:
Soudesuka? Jasutinsan nohouga kakkoii desu.
Satou says:
Demo, watashino shuunyuu wa jasutinsan yori ooi desu.
Suzuki says:
Yasashisa wa okane yori daiji desu.
Satou says:
Jaa, watashino iitokoro wa nandesuka?
Suzuki says:
Satousan no iitokoro wa omoshiroitokoro desu. Watashi no tomodachi no nakade, ichiban omoshiroi desu.
Exercise
Questions
Translate into Japanese
- This is bigger than that.
- This dog is heavier than me. *dog (いぬ)
- I am happier than everyone. *happy (しあわせ) *everyone (みんな)
Answers
- これはあれよりおおきいです。
- このいぬはわたしよりおもいです。
- わたしはみんなよりしあわせです。