Mastering Comparatives and Superlatives (より, ほど, 倍, 一番)
Welcome to this study guide on comparing and ranking things in Japanese! Whether you are preparing for Paper 2 (Translation into Japanese) or tackling reading and writing tasks in Paper 3, expressing relationships like "A is bigger than B," "A is not as good as B," "three times more," and "the very best" is an essential grammatical skill for your Pearson Edexcel A Level Japanese (9JA0) exam.
Don't worry if word order and particles seem a bit tricky at first. We will break down every single structure step by step with clear formulas, real-world examples, and easy memory tricks!
---1. Standard Comparatives: より (yori) and のほうが (no hō ga)
When you want to state that one item or action has more of a certain quality than another, Japanese uses the particle より (meaning "than") and the phrase のほうが (meaning "the side of... is more").
Core Formula: Comparing Two Nouns
There are two natural ways to arrange this sentence. Both mean that A is the winner (A has more of the quality than B):
Pattern 1: A は B より [Adjective] です。
A is more [Adjective] than B.
Pattern 2 (Emphasising the winner): B より A のほうが [Adjective] です。
Rather than B, A is more [Adjective].
Examples:
• 新幹線は バスより 速いです。
(The bullet train is faster than the bus.)
• バスより 新幹線のほうが 速いです。
(Compared to the bus, the bullet train is faster.)
Comparing Actions (Using Verbs)
To compare two actions, use the plain (dictionary) form of the verbs:
[Verb 1 Plain] より [Verb 2 Plain] ほうが [Adjective] です。
• 食べるより 寝るほうが 好きです。
(I like sleeping more than eating.)
Asking Questions: Comparing Two Options
When asking someone to compare two items, use the question word どちら (dochira - which of the two):
Formula: A と B と、どちらのほうが [Adjective] ですか。
• 日本料理と フランス料理と、どちらのほうが 好きですか。
(Between Japanese food and French food, which do you like more?)
Answer: 日本料理のほうが 好きです。 (I like Japanese food more.)
Key Takeaway: Whoever has のほうが attached is the "winner" (possesses more of the quality). The item with より is simply the baseline of comparison.
---2. Negative Comparatives: ほど (hodo)
When you want to say that something is "not as... as" something else, use ほど (hodo).
The Golden Rule of ほど
CRITICAL RULE: ほど must ALWAYS be paired with a negative ending! Using hodo with a positive verb or adjective is a major grammatical error on the A Level exam.
Core Formula:
A は B ほど [Adjective/Verb Negative] です。
A is not as [Adjective] as B. (Meaning: B is greater than A).
Examples:
• この本は あの本ほど 難しくないです。
(This book is not as difficult as that book. → That book is more difficult.)
• 今年の夏は 去年の夏ほど 暑くありません。
(This summer is not as hot as last summer.)
Memory Trick for "Who Wins?":
• In A は B より [Positive] → A is higher/more.
• In A は B ほど [Negative] → B is higher/more.
Key Takeaway: Think of hodo as "to the extent of". A は B ほど...ない literally means "A does not reach the extent of B." Always check that your sentence ends in ない or ありません!
3. Multiples and Proportions: 倍 (bai)
When making precise comparisons involving quantities, ratios, or multiples (e.g. "twice as big", "three times as many"), use the counter suffix 倍 (ばい / bai).
Core Formula:
A は B の [Number] 倍 [Adjective / Verb] です。
A is [Number] times as [Adjective] as B.
Common Multiples:
• 二倍 (にばい / nibai): 2 times / twice as much
• 三倍 (さんばい / sanbai): 3 times / three times as much
• 十倍 (じゅうばい / jūbai): 10 times / ten times as much
Examples:
• 私の部屋は 弟の部屋の 二倍 広いです。
(My room is twice as spacious as my younger brother's room.)
• このスマートフォンの値段は あのスマートフォンの 三倍 高いです。
(The price of this smartphone is three times as expensive as that smartphone.)
Key Takeaway: Don't forget the particle の directly after reference item B: B の [Number] 倍.
4. Superlatives: 一番 (ichiban) & もっとも (mottomo)
When you want to identify the absolute "most" or "number one" within a group or category (out of three or more items), use 一番 (いちばん / ichiban) or its formal written equivalent もっとも (mottomo).
Core Formula: Identifying the "Most"
[Category / Group] の中で [Item] が 一番 [Adjective] です。
Within [Category], [Item] is the most [Adjective].
Examples:
• スポーツの中で サッカーが 一番 人気があります。
(Among sports, football is the most popular.)
• 一年の中で 七月が もっとも 暑いです。
(Within the year, July is the hottest. — Note: もっとも is frequently used in formal essay writing.)
Superlative Questions: Asking "Which is the most...?"
When asking questions within a group of three or more, select the correct question word based on the category:
• 何 (なに / nani): for objects/things
• 誰 (だれ / dare): for people
• どこ (doko): for places
• いつ (itsu): for time/seasons
• どれ (dore): for choosing from a specific list of 3+ concrete items
Question Formula: [Category] の中で [Question Word] が 一番 [Adjective] ですか。
• クラスの中で だれが 一番 背が高いですか。
(Who is the tallest in the class?)
• 日本料理の中で 何が 一番 おいしいですか。
(Among Japanese dishes, what is the most delicious?)
Key Takeaway: Always specify the category or group using 〜の中で (no naka de) and mark the subject/question word with が.
---5. Common Pitfalls to Avoid in A Level Exams
Examiners frequently highlight specific errors in Paper 2 (Translation) and Paper 3. Be on the lookout for these classic traps:
1. Using ほど with an Affirmative Ending:
Wrong: この車は あの車ほど 高いです。
Correct: この車は あの車ほど 高くないです。 (This car is not as expensive as that car.)
2. Missing Particle の in のほうが:
In Paper 2 translations, missing the small particle の in Noun + のほうが will cost you precision marks.
Wrong: バス ほうが 安いです。
Correct: バスのほうが 安いです。
3. Confusing どちら (2 items) with どれ (3+ items):
• Use どちら (dochira) when choosing between two options.
• Use どれ / 何 / 誰 / どこ when choosing from three or more options (superlative context).
Quick Revision Summary Table
• A は B より [Adj] です → A is more [Adj] than B (A is higher)
• B より A のほうが [Adj] です → A is more [Adj] than B (A is higher)
• A は B ほど [Adj-Negative] です → A is not as [Adj] as B (B is higher)
• A は B の [Number] 倍 [Adj] です → A is [X] times more [Adj] than B
• [Category] の中で [Item] が 一番 / もっとも [Adj] です → [Item] is the most [Adj] in [Category]