This document provides examples and explanations for comparing two or more items in Japanese using the question words "dochira" and "dore". - "Dochira" is used to compare two items and can be used with "no hō" which means "direction". It asks which of the two is preferred. - "Dore" is used when comparing more than two items. - Examples are given using these question words followed by "ga" and an adjective to ask which is more of something, like expensive or delicious. - When specifying the items to compare, they can be listed with "to" between them before using "dochira ga" to ask which is more of an

1. Saying “which”
どちら or どれ
Comparing things

2. Comparing two things
どちら is the question word for comparing 2 items – literally “which of the two?”
の方 (ほう) is often added to comparisons of two things – literally “direction”
It’s like asking “Which of the two do you lean towards?”
The particle が follows both どちら and どちらの方

3. Comparing more than two things
どれ is the question word when there are more than 2 items – literally “which of
several?”
The particle が follows どれ

4. The patternどちら
が adjective ですか。どちら の方
どれ
• Use the question word
• Add the particle が
• Use the adjective
• Finish the question withですか

5. Examples
どちらが高いですか。
Which (of the two) is more expensive?
どちらの方がおいしいですか。
Which of the two leans towards being more delicious?
どれがおもしろいですか。
Which of those is more interesting?

6. Indicating what you want to compare
If you want to be specific when asking someone which they prefer, give the options
(nouns) and use the “and” particle, と, before asking “which is more X?”
To answer, you can just describe the noun. You can add の方, if you’d like.

7. The pattern
Noun A と Noun B と
どちら
が ＿＿ですか。
どちらの方
• Give the nouns first, and follow
them both with と
• Use your question word and
add the particle が
• Use the adjective
• Finish the question withですか

8. Examples:
にほんでは、みかんとオレンジとどちらが高いですか。 オレンジが少し高いです。
In Japan, which are more expensive, mandarins or oranges? Oranges are a little (more) expensive.
ケーキとパイとどちらの方がおいしいですか。 パイの方がおいしいです。
Which is more delicious, the cake or the pie? Pie is more delicious.
みのるくんととしきくんとどちらがせいが高いですか。 としきくんの方がずっとせが高いです。
Who is taller, Minoru or Toshiki? Toshiki is much taller.