What is “yori” in Japanese?
There are some homophones in Japanese, but native speakers quite often use “yori” as a case particle to compare two things or people in a sentence. They put it after a noun or noun equivalent word on which the comparison in a sentence is based. In this blog post, I will explain this usage through an example sentence. And also, I will explain two other usages which are highly related to the one above. My explanations would help Japanese learners to understand “yori” more clearly. Then, let’s get started!
Contents
Definition and meaning of “yori”
Let me start with the definition and meaning of “yori”.
- yori – より : a case particle used to compare two things or people in a sentence. This is often translated into English as “than”.
Native speakers use this case particle after a noun or noun equivalent word on which the comparison in a sentence is based. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this case particle is very similar to that of the English conjunction, “than”, I think.
The definition and meaning are not that difficult. Then, let me explain how to use it through the example sentence below.
Example #1: how to use “yori” to compare two people
boku wa kanojo yori wakai desu – 僕は彼女より若いです (ぼくはかのじょよりわかいです)
I am younger than she.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
- wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “boku” to make the subject in the sentence.
- kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
- wakai – 若い (わかい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘young’ in Japanese.
- desu – です : an auxiliary verb used after a noun or adjective to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese desu form. In the example, this is used after “wakai” to make it sound polite.
This is a typical usage of “yori”. In this example, it works after “kanojo” to make the object on which the comparison in the sentence is based. This role is very similar to that of “than” in English, I think. “Boku” is younger than “kanojo”: “boku” is compared with “kanojo” in terms of age in the sentence.
Example #2: how to use “yori” at the end of a letter
I’ve explained the most widely-used type of “yori” with the example sentence. However, its usages are not limited to comparing two things or people in a sentence. This case particle can also work to indicate the start of an action. Although another case particle, “kara“, is more commonly-used for this usage, “yori” is very common to say who has written a letter, mail, or such. Actually, native speakers quite often use it at the end of a letter to say “regards”, “sincerely”, or such. Let me explain this usage through the example below.
Ringo yori – 林檎より (りんごより)
Sincerely, Ringo
Below is the new word used in the example.
- ringo – 林檎 (りんご) : a noun meaning ‘apple’ in Japanese. This can also be used as a female name in Japanese.
As this example shows, we can use “yori” after a name to say “sincerely”, “regards”, or such at the end of a letter or mail. Japanese people normally use this in casual situations like letters to their friends and family members. So, it is not completely the same as the English expressions above, I think. It’s still worth knowing, though.
“Yori” as an adverb
Lastly, let me explain “yori” which can work to make comparative-like sentences. This type is an adverb, but has been derived from the first one explained above.
rainen wa yori benkyou shi tai – 来年はより勉強したい (らいねんはよりべんきょうしたい)
I want to study more next year.
Below are the particle and new words used in the example sentence.
- rainen – 来年 (らいねん) : a noun meaning ‘next year’ in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence to say “next year” in Japanese.
- wa – は : the same as explained in the first example. In this example, this works as a topic marker after “rainen” to put a focus on it.
- benkyou shi – 勉強し (べんきょうし) : one conjugation of the verb, “benkyou suru”, which means ‘to study’ or ‘to learn’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word. Learn more about “benkyou“.
- tai – たい : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its desire form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese tai form. In the example, this is used after “benkyou shi” to make its desire form, “benkyou shi tai”, which means ‘to want to study’.
This is a typical usage of this type of “yori”. In this example, it works before “benkyou shi tai” to add the meaning of “more”. Again, but it is an adverb. It can work almost anywhere in a sentence: it doesn’t need to follow a noun or noun equivalent word. Perhaps, however, we can understand that the original noun preceding “yori” – for example, “kotoshi” which means ‘this year’ in Japanese – has been omitted and only the particle has remained with the nuance of the original comparative expression.
Summary
In this blog post, I’ve explained the definitions and meanings of “yori” in detail. And also, I’ve explained how to use it through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.
- yori – より : a case particle used to compare two things or people in a sentence. Native speakers use this case particle after a noun or noun equivalent word on which the comparison in a sentence is based. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this case particle is very similar to that of the English conjunction, “than”. Actually, this is often translated into English as “than”.
- yori – より : a case particle, but widely used as an expression after a name at the end of a letter or mail to indicate who has written it. This is often translated into English as “regards”, “sincerely”, or such.
- yori – より : an adverb used to add the meaning of “more” or such to a sentence. This type has been derived from the case particle.
Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.
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