Page 366 - Basic Japanese

hō after the word referring to the stated item of comparison:

フロアリングの方が好きです。
Furōringu no hō ga suki desu.
I prefer wooden floors. (as opposed to carpet)

地下鉄で行く方がいい。
Chikatetsu de iku hō ga ii.

It’s better to go by subway. (as opposed to
going by bus)

小さい方を買ったんです。

Chīsai hō o katta n desu.
I bought the smaller one. (as opposed to the big

one)

野菜を食べた方がいい。

Yasai o tabeta hō ga ii.
It’s better to eat vegetables. (as opposed to
eating no vegetables)

お酒を飲まない方がいい。
O-sake o nomanai hō ga ii.
It’s better not to drink sake as opposed to

drinking it.

Notice the difference of meaning between hō ‘alternative,

choice’ and no ‘one, thing’: chīsai no o katta n desu ‘I bought a
small one,’ chikatetsu de iku no ga ii desu ‘it’s good to go by

subway.’

If you mention both items of comparison, the particle yori
‘(more) than’ is used to set off the standard of comparison:

TYPE 1: