Lesson 12 of 50 · より・どちらが・一番 · みんなの日本語 第12課 · N5

Story voice: 〜 N3–N2 Japanese — above this lesson’s level, on purpose. Your target is the Key Sentences.

Episode 12: Which Is More Dangerous

Mini Story

A spy chooses. Two routes, two targets, two truths — take the smaller danger. Comparison is the spy’s quiet arithmetic.间谍要选。两条路线，两个目标，两个真相——选危险更小的那个。比较，是间谍安静的算术。間諜要選。兩條路線，兩個目標，兩個真相——選危險更小的那個。比較，是間諜安靜的算術。Điệp viên phải chọn. Hai lộ trình, hai mục tiêu, hai sự thật — chọn mối nguy nhỏ hơn. So sánh là phép tính thầm lặng của điệp viên.
スパイ は選えらeraぶ。 二ふたfutaつの route、 二ふたfutaつの target、 二ふたfutaつの真実しんじつshinjitsu ── より小ちいchiiさな危険きけんkikenを。 比較ひかくhikakuは、 スパイ の静しずshizuかな計算けいさんkeisan。

The night air bites at his face. He turns up his collar. This winter is colder than the last.夜里的空气咬着脸。他竖起衣领。今年的冬天，比去年冷。夜裡的空氣咬著臉。他豎起衣領。今年的冬天，比去年冷。Không khí đêm cắn vào mặt. Anh dựng cổ áo lên. Mùa đông năm nay lạnh hơn năm ngoái.
夜よるyoruの空気くうきkuukiが顔かおkaoを噛かkaむ。 襟えりeriを立たtaてる。 今年こんねんkonnenの冬ふゆfuyuは、 去年きょねんkyonenより寒さむsamuい。

At the corner, the contact — face hidden under a hood. The whisper comes hurried: which one do you protect?街角站着联络人——脸藏在兜帽下面。他急促地低声问：你要保哪一个？街角站著聯絡人——臉藏在兜帽下面。他急促地低聲問：你要保哪一個？Ở góc phố, người liên lạc — gương mặt giấu dưới mũ trùm. Lời thì thầm gấp gáp: anh sẽ giữ cái nào?
角かどkadoに コンタクト ── フードの下したshitaに顔かおkaoを隠かくkakuして。 コンタクト は急いそisoいて囁ささやsasayaく。 どちらを守まもmamoるか、 と。

Mike answers without hesitating. He had already chosen.麦克不假思索地回答。他早就选好了。麥克不假思索地回答。他早就選好了。Mike trả lời không chút do dự. Anh đã chọn từ trước rồi.
マイクは、 迷まよmayoわず答こたkotaえる。 すでに選えらeraんでいた。

The contact melts into the dark. Mike walks back alone. A small smile — the kind no camera ever catches.联络人消失在黑暗里。麦克一个人走回去。嘴角一点笑意——任何相机都拍不到的那种。聯絡人消失在黑暗裡。麥克一個人走回去。嘴角一點笑意——任何相機都拍不到的那種。Người liên lạc tan vào bóng tối. Mike một mình đi bộ trở về. Một nụ cười rất khẽ — loại nụ cười không máy ảnh nào bắt được.
コンタクト は闇やみyamiに消きkiえる。 マイクは、 一人ひとりhitoriで歩あるaruいて戻もどmodoる。 小ちいchiiさな笑えeみ ── どの カメラ も捉とらtoraえない種類しゅるいshuruiの。

Chapter 5: The Locked Room →

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Key Sentences

swap subjects.

1. N1 は N2 より adj です (today is colder than yesterday)

2. N1 と N2 と、どちらが adj ですか (which is more important?)

3. N の ほうが adj です (the key is more important)

4. 範囲はんいhan’i で N が 一番いちばんichiban adj です (the quietest spy in Japan)

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Practice out loud

Say the answer before you look. The same sentences you just read — now from your own mouth.

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Vocabulary

pair adjectives as opposites.

日本語	English	简体	繁體	Tiếng Việt
〜より 今日きょうkyouは 昨日きのうkinouより 寒さむsamuいです。	than Today is colder than yesterday.	比 今天比昨天冷。	比 今天比昨天冷。	hơn Hôm nay lạnh hơn hôm qua.
〜の ほうが 鍵かぎkagiの ほうが 大切たいせつtaisetsuです。	more (X) The key is the more important one.	更 钥匙更重要。	更 鑰匙更重要。	hơn Chìa khóa mới là thứ quan trọng hơn.
どちら 写真しゃしんshashinと 鍵かぎkagiと、どちらが 大切たいせつtaisetsuですか。	which (of two) Which is more important, the photo or the key?	哪个 照片和钥匙，哪个更重要？	哪個 照片和鑰匙，哪個更重要？	cái nào Ảnh và chìa khóa, cái nào quan trọng hơn?
一番いちばんichiban マイクは 日本にほんnihonで 一番いちばんichiban 静しずshizuかな スパイです。	most, number one Mike is the quietest spy in Japan.	最 麦克是日本最安静的间谍。	最 麥克是日本最安靜的間諜。	nhất Mike là điệp viên yên lặng nhất Nhật Bản.
寒さむsamuい 今日きょうkyouは とても 寒さむsamuいです。	cold (い-adj) It is very cold today.	冷 今天很冷。	冷 今天很冷。	lạnh Hôm nay rất lạnh.
暑あつatsuい 部屋へやheyaが 暑あつatsuいです。	hot (い-adj) The room is hot.	热 房间很热。	熱 房間很熱。	nóng Căn phòng nóng.
大切たいせつtaisetsu この 写真しゃしんshashinは 大切たいせつtaisetsuです。	important (な-adj) This photo is precious.	重要 这张照片很重要。	重要 這張照片很重要。	quan trọng Tấm ảnh này rất quý.
危あぶabuない あの 男おとこotokoの人ひとhitoは 危あぶabuないです。	dangerous (い-adj) That man is dangerous.	危险 那个男人很危险。	危險 那個男人很危險。	nguy hiểm Người đàn ông kia nguy hiểm.
安全あんぜんanzen この 道みちmichiは 安全あんぜんanzenです。	safe (な-adj) This road is safe.	安全 这条路很安全。	安全 這條路很安全。	an toàn Con đường này an toàn.
速はやhayaい 電車でんしゃdenshaの ほうが 速はやhayaいです。	fast (い-adj) The train is the faster one.	快 电车更快。	快 電車更快。	nhanh Tàu điện nhanh hơn.
遅おそosoい バスは 電車でんしゃdenshaより 遅おそosoいです。	slow / late (い-adj) The bus is slower than the train.	慢 公交车比电车慢。	慢 公車比電車慢。	chậm Xe buýt chậm hơn tàu điện.
今日きょうkyou 今日きょうkyouは 休やすyasuみです。	today Today is a day off.	今天 今天休息。	今天 今天休息。	hôm nay Hôm nay là ngày nghỉ.
昨日きのうkinou 昨日きのうkinou デパートへ 行いiきました。	yesterday I went to the department store yesterday.	昨天 昨天我去了百货商店。	昨天 昨天我去了百貨公司。	hôm qua Hôm qua tôi đã đi trung tâm thương mại.
日本にほんnihon 日本にほんnihonで 一番いちばんichiban 有名ゆうめいyuumeiな 町まちmachiは どこですか。	Japan What is the most famous town in Japan?	日本 日本最有名的城市是哪里？	日本 日本最有名的城市是哪裡？	Nhật Bản Thị trấn nổi tiếng nhất Nhật Bản là ở đâu?

Practice these words →

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Grammar Patterns

distinguish より vs ほうが.

Grammar Picture

• 目標文型this lesson’s pattern这一课的句型這一課的句型mẫu câu của bài này
• 名詞noun名词danh từ
• 助詞particle助词trợ từ
• 述語sentence ending句尾句尾phần cuối câu
• 疑問詞question word疑问词từ để hỏi

Need more detail? Open the sections below.

より vs ほうが — when to use which

Both express comparison, but they emphasize different things:

• より = the reference point ("than X")
  「今日きょうkyouは 昨日きのうkinouより 寒さむsamuいです。」 = today is colder than yesterday
• ほうが = the side that is more ("X is more")
  「今日きょうkyouの ほうが 寒さむsamuいです。」 = today is colder (the side of today is more cold)

Use them together to emphasize both: 「今日きょうkyouの ほうが 昨日きのうkinouより 寒さむsamuいです。」

Superlative range — で marks the group

For superlative (most), the range uses 「で」:

• 日本にほんNihonで 一番いちばんichiban 高たかtakaい 山やまyama = the tallest mountain in Japan
• クラスで 一番いちばんichiban 上手じょうずjouzu = best in the class
• 一日いちにちichinichiの中なかnakaで 朝あさasaが 一番いちばんichiban 静しずshizuか = morning is the quietest in the day

「で」 here marks the scope of comparison, not action.

Asking which — どちら / どれ / だれ / いつ

Different question words for different categories of comparison:

• どちら (どっち): which of TWO things
• どれ: which of THREE OR MORE things
• だれ: who (which person)
• いつ: when (which time)
• どこ: where (which place)
• 何: what (which thing)

All can be combined with 「が 一番いちばんichiban adj ですか?」 to ask about the most X.

Stating preference — most polite forms

When asked 「どちらが 好すsuきですか?」 (which do you prefer?), polite answer:

• Casual: 「Aの ほうが 好すsuきです。」
• Modest: 「Aの ほうが 好すsuきですが、 Bも 好すsuきです。」 (A is preferred, but B too) — softer
• Both: 「どちらも 好すsuきです。」 (I like both)
• Neither: 「どちらも 好すsuきじゃありません。」

「どちらも」 = both / neither (with negative). 「どちらか」 = either one.

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Roleplay Practice

compare two routes, two foods, two cities.

Try this dialog with a partner (or aloud, switching roles).

Scene: Mike and his contact discuss routes. Each must choose.

Switch roles. Compare two streets, two coffees, two phones — anything.

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How do you say this in Japanese?

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How to Use This Lesson

Read the sections in the order they appear. About 40 minutes.
Tomorrow, come back — make 3 comparisons about your morning.

For Teachers

For Teachers (45-60 minutes in class)

• Warm-up (5 min): Show two cities. Students compare with より / ほうが.
• Picture pair (10 min): 10 pairs (big/small, hot/cold). Students make comparisons.
• Which drill (10 min): 「Aと Bと、 どちらが 〜?」 Pairs interview each other.
• Superlative drill (10 min): 「クラスで 一番いちばんichiban ___な 人ひとhito?」 Students nominate classmates with reasons.
• Roleplay (15 min): Shop, restaurant, or travel. Compare options.
• Check Yourself (5-10 min): Individual quiz, group review.

Common pitfall: Students treat 「ほうが」 as an English word for "more". Reinforce that it means "the side / direction" — Aの ほうが = the A side (is more X).

Cultural note: Japanese tends to avoid direct comparison of people. 「Aさんと Bさんと、 どちらが 上手じょうずjouzu?」 may sound rude. Soften with 「どちらも 上手じょうずjouzuです」 or compare hobbies/skills instead.

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