TAKOBOTO

than, rather than
Tokyo is larger than Kyoto.

わたしはにくよりさかなのほうがいい。

I prefer fish to meat.

げんじつはきいたよりももっとかなしい。

The reality is much sadder than what I have heard.

これよりほかのほうほうがないんだよ

There's really no other better way than this.

いっぱんににほんじんは、じぶんたちがかつてよりくらしむきがよくなったとかんがえている。

The Japanese at large consider themselves better off than they used to be.

かれはわたしよりはやくはしることができる。

He is able to run faster than I am.

それより、バスをおりてからでんわしてください。

Rather than that,please call me after you have gotten down from the bus. rather than (2004JLPT3Listening)

わたしはかれよりサッカーがうまくできる。

I can play soccer better than him.

edo - i think that example better fits on the [hokanai] page...

dc

In general it "lowers" whatever is before it. I was at first confused when I saw this by itself (Without having の方が to tell me what it exactly was worse/better than), and was hesitant about using it in conversation; I wasn't sure if I was making myself lower or someone else lower.

LittleFish

#1194 bamboo-san, I think 現実は聞いたことよりももっと悲しい。 would be better.

Miki