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JLPT N3 · Sentence patterns

というより (to iu yori)

というより — “rather than ～ / more like …”

In short · Plain form / noun + というより means “rather than saying ～, it is more accurate to say ….” The speaker corrects or refines the first description with a more suitable one. The second half is the speaker's real view.
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Pattern

  • 名詞／普通形 ＋ というより、〜 noun / plain form + というより (優しいというより、料理というより)
  • AというよりB A というより B: B is a better description than A

Meaning and connection

A is the common or expected description, and B is a better one. 彼は優しいというより、気が弱い. Both A and B are in the same kind of form: adjective with adjective, noun with noun. な-adjectives and nouns drop だ.

How it works

A is not denied completely; it is just judged less suitable than B. The speaker is adjusting the description. Often B is a less flattering or more precise word.

Close forms

The longer ～というよりむしろ ... adds “rather” for emphasis. The sentence-final version AというよりBに近い (closer to B than A) is also common.

Examples

  • 彼（かれ）は優（やさ）しいというより、気（き）が弱（よわ）い。

    Kare wa yasashii to iu yori, ki ga yowai.

    Rather than kind, he's just timid.

  • これは料理（りょうり）というより、芸術（げいじゅつ）作品（さくひん）だ。

    Kore wa ryōri to iu yori, geijutsu sakuhin da.

    This is a work of art rather than a dish.

  • 彼女（かのじょ）は歌手（かしゅ）というより、俳優（はいゆう）に近（ちか）い。

    Kanojo wa kashu to iu yori, haiyū ni chikai.

    She is closer to an actor than a singer.

Common mistakes

  • Do not use だ before というより: 優しいというより, 歌手というより (not 歌手だというより).
  • It compares two descriptions of the same thing. Do not use it to compare two different things; use より alone.

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