Introduction
In this blog post, we will learn how to make comparisons among three or more items in Japanese. This is a useful structure for expressing preferences and identifying the best option among multiple choices.
What It Means
When comparing three or more items, the degree qualifier いちばん (ichiban) is used to indicate the best or most property among the group.
Formation
AとBとCの中で、Aがいちばん(property)。 (A to B to C no naka de, A ga ichiban (property).) = A is the most (property) [among the group of items].
Examples
アメリカとインドと日本の中で、どこがいちばん暑いですか。 (Amerika to Indo to Nihon no naka de, doko ga ichiban atsui desu ka?) Among America, India, and Japan, which country has the hottest climate?
インドがいちばん暑いと思います。 (Indo ga ichiban atsui to omoimasu.) I think India is the hottest.
季節の中でいつがいちばん好きですか。 (Kisetsu no naka de itsu ga ichiban suki desu ka?) What season do you like best?
春がいちばん好きです。 (Haru ga ichiban suki desu.) I like Spring the most.
Note
In statements of comparison among three or more items, the words のほう (no hou) and どっち (docchi) are not used. Instead, normal question words like だれ (dare), どれ (dore), 何 (nani), いつ (itsu), and どこ (doko) are used.
It is common to use どれ (dore) for choosing from a list of items, and 何 (nani) for referring to a group as a whole.
Compare:
りんごといちごとさくらんぼの中で、どれがいちばん好きですか。 (Ringo to ichigo to sakuranbo no naka de, dore ga ichiban suki desu ka?) Which do you like best, apples, strawberries, or cherries?
果物の中で、何がいちばん好きですか。 (Kudamono no naka de, nani ga ichiban suki desu ka?) What fruit do you like best?
In this sentence, “果物” (kudamono, fruit) is considered a group or category. When asking which specific item within this group you like the most, 何 (nani) is used to refer to the group collectively. This is different from using どれ (dore), which is used when selecting from a presented list of individual items.
Conclusion
Using いちばん (ichiban) for comparisons among three or more items helps you express your preferences clearly and effectively in Japanese.
