何より
Meanings
- Most important; above all; best; more than anything
- Be glad; be relieved
- More than anything else
- Above all else
About this pattern
Explanation
何より is a versatile adverb used to emphasize that something is more important or preferable than anything else. It can express both a strong preference and a feeling of relief or happiness when describing what matters most in a situation. Use it to highlight priority, value, or emotional emphasis. In everyday speech, 何より and 何よりも are interchangeable in many cases, with 何よりも sounding a bit more formal or emphatic. It typically comes before the thing that is being prioritized or emphasized, often modifying adjectives or verbs (e.g., 何より嬉しい, 何より大切だ). It can also introduce a sentence that contrasts or prioritizes a point, as in 何より、〜が重要だ, meaning “Above all, ... is important.” Keep in mind that when you want to stress “more than anything,” 何よりも is a common and natural choice.
Learn in context
Example sentences
After receiving her acceptance notice, I was more than happy.
Health is more important than anything.
More than anything, I want time with my family.
Above all, I should have apologized first.
Above all, everyone's safety is the top priority.
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