Translation guide
In Japanese, expressing comparison depends on whether you are comparing two items, stating something is the most, or making a metaphorical comparison. Common patterns include より (than), のほうが (more), and 一番 (the most).
Express that one thing has more of a quality than another.
Basic pattern for 'A is more X than B'. より marks the standard of comparison.
Tokyo is bigger than Osaka.
Today is hotter than yesterday.
Emphasizes A as the one that is more X. のほうが highlights the subject.
Tokyo is bigger than Osaka (emphasizing Tokyo).
More explicit comparison, often used in writing or formal speech.
Between Japan and America, Japan is safer.
Express that one thing has less of a quality than another.
Use ほど with negative form to mean 'not as X as'. For な-adjectives, use ではない; for い-adjectives, use くない.
This book is not as interesting as that one.
Today is not as cold as yesterday.
Reversed order, still meaning 'A is not as X as B'.
This book is not as interesting as that one.
Compare the degree or frequency of actions.
Use より directly after the noun to compare actions.
I study more than my younger brother.
He runs faster than me.
Emphasizes A as the one who does the action more.
I study more than my younger brother (emphasizing me).
Express that something is the most among a group.
一番 means 'number one' or 'most'. で marks the group or category.
He is the tallest in the class.
Mt. Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan.
Formal/literary equivalent of 一番, often used in writing.
Express that something is similar to something else.
Attaches to nouns with の, or verbs/adjectives in plain form. Means 'like' or 'as if'.
He is like a child.
It's just like a dream.
Casual equivalent of よう. Used in spoken Japanese.
That cloud looks like a dog.
Suffix meaning '-ish' or 'tends to'. Attaches to nouns or verb stems.
He is childish.
Express that two things have the same degree of a quality.
同じくらい means 'about the same'. Use with adjectives.
This car is as fast as that car.
ほど in a positive sentence can mean 'to the extent that', implying a high degree, but not exactly equality. Often used with ない for negative comparison.
Positive ほど is less common for equality; it often implies 'so X that...' rather than 'as X as'.
Today is as hot as yesterday (to that extent).
Both can express comparison, but のほうが emphasizes the subject. Use より when the standard of comparison is more important, and のほうが when the subject is the focus.
I prefer tea over coffee (emphasizing tea).
English 'than' is not a separate word in Japanese; it is expressed by particles like より or ほど. Do not try to translate 'than' directly.
これは最も重要な問題です。
This is the most important problem.