GRAMMAR DETAIL

～より～ほうが

more ... than

Presents both a basis of comparison and the preferred or stronger alternative to show which has more of a quality.

Examples

私は肉より魚のほうが好きです。

I like fish more than meat.

駅までは電車より自転車のほうが早いです。

A bicycle is faster than the train for getting to the station.

Structure: The comparison standard takes より, and the highlighted noun takes のほうが.
Basic usage: 私は肉より魚のほうが好きです。 uses meat as the standard and expresses a preference for fish.

Direction of comparison
- In AよりBのほうが早い, B is faster. Reversing the order to BよりAのほうが早い reverses the comparison.
Comparing actions
- A plain verb directly takes ほうが, as in 歩くより自転車で行くほうが早い. Do not insert the nominal connector の into every comparison.