JLPT N5 Grammar: 〜のほうが〜です — Making Comparisons

JLPT N5 Grammar: 〜のほうが〜です

Q: What's the difference between のほうが and より?

のほうが marks the 'more' side (Aのほうが = A is more). より marks the standard of comparison (Bより = than B). They often appear together.

Q: Is のほうが always used with adjectives?

Mostly yes, but it can be used with verbs too: 日本語のほうが話せます = I can speak Japanese better (than another language).

Making comparisons — “A is more ~ than B”

JLPTジェイエルピーティー N5エヌゴ文法ぶんぽう〜のほうが解説かいせつ (比較ひかく)

⏱️ Study time: 5–7 minutes

〜のほうが (no hou ga) is the core pattern for making comparisons in Japanese. It marks the "more" side of a comparison — "A is more ~ than B". Combined with より (yori), it creates the full comparative structure: AのほうがBより〜です.

🚀 JLPT N5 Warm-up Quiz

Q: How do you say “Coffee is better than tea” (lit. coffee is more delicious)?

All three are grammatically correct! A uses のほうが (the most explicit comparison). B uses は (topic contrast). C uses が (subject emphasis). のほうが is the clearest and most common N5 comparison pattern.

Quick Summary

Grammar Point
〜のほうが

Meaning
~ is more (than the other)

Pattern
Aのほうが (Bより) + Adjective

Example
コーヒーのほうがお茶ちゃよりおいしいです。こーひーのほうがおちゃよりおいしいです。Kōhī no hou ga ocha yori oishii desu.
Coffee is more delicious than tea.

📝 Core Patterns

A is more ~ than B: Aのほうが Bより + Adjective

Simple preference (without B): Aのほうが + Adjective (A is more ~)

Question: AとBとどちらのほうが + Adjectiveですか

⚠️ のほう literally means "the direction/side of". のほうが means "the side of A is more ~".

🧠 Need the comparison particle? See より (yori) →

💡 Toggle furigana, hiragana, or romaji for easier reading.

What is 〜のほうが?

〜のほうが means "~ is more" or "~ is the better one". ほう (方) means "direction" or "side", so Aのほうが literally means "A's side is more ~". It's the standard N5 pattern for expressing comparisons and preferences.

With より: AのほうがBより大きいです = A is bigger than B.
Without より (implied comparison): Aのほうがいいです = A is better (than the alternatives).
For questions: どちらのほうが〜ですか = Which one is more ~?

日本にほんのほうが私わたしの国くにより広ひろいです。にほんのほうがわたしのくによりひろいです。Nihon no hou ga watashi no kuni yori hiroi desu.
Japan is wider than my country.

⚡ Comparison Patterns with のほうが

Pattern	Meaning	Example
AのほうがBより + Adj	A is more ~ than B	夏なつのほうが冬ふゆより好すきです。 I like summer more than winter.
Aのほうが + Adj	A is more ~ (implied comparison)	この方ほうがいいです。 This one is better.
どちらのほうが + Adj ですか	Which is more ~?	日本語にほんごと英語えいごとどちらのほうが難むずかしいですか。 Which is more difficult, Japanese or English?

Examples & Mini Dialogue

電車でんしゃのほうがバスより速はやいです。でんしゃのほうがばすよりはやいです。Densha no hou ga basu yori hayai desu.
Trains are faster than buses.

✅ Classic AのほうがBより comparison.

日本語にほんごと英語えいごとどちらのほうが難むずかしいですか。にほんごとえいごとどちらのほうがむずかしいですか。Nihongo to Eigo to dochira no hou ga muzukashii desu ka.
Which is more difficult, Japanese or English?

🗣️ Mini Dialogue
A: 夏なつと冬ふゆとどちらが好すきですか。なつとふゆとどちらがすきですか。Natsu to fuyu to dochira ga suki desu ka.
B: 夏なつのほうが好すきです。なつのほうがすきです。Natsu no hou ga suki desu.

⚡ のほうが vs より — Full Comparison Structure

Pattern	Meaning	Example
AのほうがBより + Adj	A is more ~ than B (explicit)	日本にほんのほうが韓国かんこくより大おおきいです。 Japan is bigger than Korea.
BよりAのほうが + Adj	Same meaning, reversed order	韓国かんこくより日本にほんのほうが大おおきいです。 Compared to Korea, Japan is bigger.
AはBより + Adj	More concise; uses は for topic	日本にほんは韓国かんこくより大おおきいです。 Japan is bigger than Korea.

Common Mistakes (and Fixes)

✕ 日本にほんのほうが韓国かんこくより大おおきいです (using のほうが without より when comparing two items).

✓ This is actually correct! But some learners forget より: 日本にほんは韓国かんこくより大おおきいです is more natural in everyday speech.

✕ 夏なつのほうがいい vs どちら question — forgetting のほう in the answer.

✓ When answering どちらが〜ですか, use のほうが in the reply: 夏なつのほうが好すきです.

✕ Using より twice in one sentence.

✓ One より marks the standard of comparison. Don't repeat it.

JLPT N5 Practice Questions

Score: 0 / 3

1. “Coffee is more delicious than tea.” Choose the correct comparison.

2. “Which is bigger, Tokyo or Osaka?” — choose the correct pattern.

3. What does のほうが mean in a comparison?

🎯 JLPT N5 tip: のほうが and より are tested together in the grammar section. The full pattern AのほうがBより〜です can appear in either order (BよりAのほうが). Recognise both and know that のほう marks the "winning" side of the comparison.

Test yourself with a free mock exam →

About the Instructor

Taught by Anup Sensei at Gogaku Language & Training Center in Pokhara. With real Japan experience and a focus on exam essentials, he helps students pass the JLPT with confidence.

⚡ Vocabulary Used in This Lesson

Japanese	Reading	Type	English Meaning
方ほう	ほう	Noun	direction, side
夏なつ	なつ	Noun	summer
冬ふゆ	ふゆ	Noun	winter
電車でんしゃ	でんしゃ	Noun	train
バス	ばす	Noun	bus
速はやい	はやい	i‑adjective	fast
難むずかしい	むずかしい	i‑adjective	difficult

Related Grammar

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between のほうが and より?

のほうが marks the "more" side (Aのほうが = A is more). より marks the standard of comparison (Bより = than B). They often appear together: AのほうがBより = A is more ~ than B.

Can I use のほうが without より?

Yes. When the comparison is implied or the alternative is already known, のほうが alone is fine: このほうがいいです = This one is better (than the others).

Is のほうが always used with adjectives?

Mostly yes, but it can be used with verbs too: 日本語にほんごのほうが話はなせます = I can speak Japanese better (than another language). This is slightly beyond N5 but common in daily speech.

Continue Learning

Next: より (yori) — the comparison particle.

Learn より →

→ Explore the JLPT N5 Grammar Hub

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