より

より means from. It is a JLPT N2 Japanese grammar pattern used to mark a formal starting point in time, place, or source.

This grammar point often appears in advanced reading, formal writing, notices, essays, and careful conversation. If you want to read Japanese with more nuance, より is a useful pattern to learn because it shows the speaker’s logic, stance, or emphasis.

What does より mean?

Use より when you want to mark a formal starting point in time, place, or source.

Natural translations include:

• from
• depending on context
• in a way that matches the speaker’s emphasis

The best translation depends on the sentence. Focus first on what relationship the pattern creates between the ideas.

How to form より

Noun + より

Examples of the pattern:

• 会議は午後三時より始まります。
• 申請は本日より受け付けます。
• 駅より徒歩五分です。

In JLPT questions, pay close attention to the word immediately before the grammar point. Many wrong answers use a similar meaning but attach to the wrong form.

When is より used?

Use より in situations like:

• reading formal explanations, announcements, or essays
• making a point more precise than a basic grammar pattern would
• connecting two ideas with a clear nuance

Tone and register:

• usually neutral to formal, depending on the expression
• common in JLPT N2 reading passages, news, notices, and business-like writing

より example sentences

• 会議は午後三時より始まります。 — The meeting starts from 3 p.m.
• 申請は本日より受け付けます。 — Applications are accepted from today.
• 駅より徒歩五分です。 — It is five minutes on foot from the station.
• 詳しい情報は担当者よりご連絡します。 — Detailed information will be sent from the person in charge.
• このお知らせは事務局より送信しています。 — This notice is being sent from the office.

After reading each sentence, ask what job より is doing. Is it adding, excluding, warning, emphasizing, or showing a condition? That habit makes the nuance easier to remember than a single English translation.

Nuance of より

The key nuance is mark a formal starting point in time, place, or source.

This matters because N2 grammar often overlaps with easier expressions. The advanced pattern usually adds formality, emphasis, restriction, or a stronger logical relationship.

For example:

• In formal writing, より often sounds more precise than a casual equivalent.
• Compared with から, it has a different tone or scope even when the English translation looks similar.

より vs から

Both より and から can express related ideas, but they are different.

より:

• fits the N2 nuance explained above
• often sounds more specific, formal, or emphatic

から:

• is usually broader, simpler, or used in a different register
• may be better in casual conversation depending on the sentence

Quick contrast examples:

• 会議は午後三時より始まります。
• Try rewriting the sentence with から and notice whether the tone or meaning changes.

Common mistakes with より

Watch out for these mistakes:

• Translating it too literally and missing the function in context
• Confusing it with から just because the English translation overlaps
• Using it in casual speech when a simpler pattern would sound more natural

A helpful practice method is to write one sentence with より, then compare it with a related grammar point. Explain the difference in your own words.

Is より on the JLPT?

Yes. より is commonly taught as JLPT N2 grammar.

That means learners should be able to:

• recognize it in reading
• understand its nuance in context
• use it in simple original sentences

For test preparation, study the grammar point in full sentences. JLPT questions usually test context, not dictionary translation alone.

Practice questions for より

Try making your own sentences with these prompts:

• Write one sentence that clearly needs より.
• Write a second sentence with から and compare the nuance.
• Find a notice, article, or dialogue where this kind of meaning would be natural.

Learning path for より

To learn より efficiently, follow a path that matches this pattern’s real function.

1. First review the formation so the base structure feels natural.
2. Then compare より with から and the related lessons below. These recommendations are chosen from similar semantic or structural families.
3. Finally, write your own sentence where the context makes より necessary.

Related grammar to review next

• n5 kara — review this next because it is close in meaning, form, or register
• より — review this next because it is close in meaning, form, or register
• n2 nite — review this next because it is close in meaning, form, or register

Learn より with Hane

If you want to review より together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you connect grammar, kanji, and vocabulary in short, focused sessions.

Browse more lessons here:

• All grammar lessons
• JLPT N2 grammar lessons