それより

そ

れ

よ

り

Meanings

Used to shift the topic or introduce a more important point, often contrasting with what was just said. Can be translated as 'more importantly', 'rather than that', or simply 'but' depending on context.

それより、明日あしたの会かい議ぎの準じゅん備びはできた？
More importantly, have you prepared for tomorrow's meeting?
旅りょ行こうの話はなしもいいけど、それより仕し事ごとを終おわらせよう。
Talking about the trip is fine, but let's finish our work first.

See all 11 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

それより先さきに〈動どう詞し〉before that, (do something) first
それより先さきに、宿しゅく題だいを終おわらせなさい。
Before that, finish your homework first.

Related words

それよりも
それよりも is a more emphatic or formal version of それより, often used in writing or polite speech to shift to a more important point.
それにN4
それに adds extra information ('besides', 'moreover'), while それより shifts the conversation to a more important point rather than adding to it.
ところでN4
ところで changes the subject to something largely unrelated, while それより moves to a point that is usually more important or urgent than what was just said.
それはさておき
それより is a casual way to pivot to a new, often unrelated topic ('more importantly...'), while それはさておき more pointedly sets aside the previous remark to return to the original subject.

Etymology

Compound of それ (that) and より (than), literally 'than that'. The conjunction use developed from the comparative structure.