Usage of より
The particle より has several important uses in Japanese. It can indicate the starting point of an action or movement, such as "駅よりバスで行く" (go by bus from the station). It is also commonly used to express comparison, similar to "than" in English, for example, "東京より大阪のほうが暑い" (Osaka is hotter than Tokyo).
Additionally, より can refer to the act of twisting or plying strands together, as in "三本より" (three-ply). This usage is more specialized and often appears in contexts related to threads or ropes.
Common Collocations and Patterns
- より～のほうが: used for making comparisons, e.g., "AよりBのほうが～" means "B is more ~ than A".
- ～より: indicates starting point or origin, e.g., "駅より" means "from the station".
- 数字＋本＋より: refers to the number of strands twisted together, e.g., "三本より".
Notes
When using より for comparison, it is often paired with のほうが to emphasize the second item. Also, より as a starting point marker is more formal than から and is often used in written or polite contexts.
A common learner mistake is confusing より with から when indicating origin; より is more formal and often used in written language, while から is more casual and common in speech.