What does the の in AよりBのほう?

Question

So I understand that this format means that you like something more than something else, but what exactly does the の function as. From my understanding, the より kind of means "than," and the ほう is this 方. So what exactly does the の do.

I guess this also applies to comparing three or more items, where what does the の and で mean in の中で? I believe the で means something, like "in these options"?

(I'm trying to fully understand everthing instead of just say, "ok, this means that and I'm done").ありがとうございます

Answer 1

I'm trying to fully understand everything instead of just say, "ok, this means that and I'm done"

I'm going to assume you mean you want a breakdown of the grammar mentioned above. So with that in mind:

First: AよりBのほう

you like something more than something else I'm going to take this comment at face value here, so forgive me if I've misinterpreted it.

I would be careful saying AよりBのほう is "liking something more than something else". It can mean that, but that fully depends on the context / sentence intending to mean that.

AよりBのほう is pattern that literally translates to "B's way is more X than A". You right with より meaning "than" and ほう being 方 which means "way" here. The の being used is the の particle and indicates possession. This also means that B would be a noun in this case. Leaving X as being the "more" whatever (e.g. liked, harder, tastier, or etc) indicator.

Example:

僕はハンバーガーよりピザの方が好きです。

As for me, I like pizza's way more than hamburgers.

Englishified: I like pizza more than hamburgers.

Second: の中で

I guess this also applies to comparing three or more items

Personally, I don't agree with this statement 100% as I don't see の中で as a "hard and fast" intended for comparisons rule. It could be used in this manner assuming the sentence indicates or intends for that.

Xの中で has a literal meaning of "within, among, inside, or etc of X". Working from left to right: X is our thing to consider. The の here is also the の particle indicating possession. 中 (なか) means within, among, inside, or etc depending on the context. And で is the で particle, where it can take on the meaning of with, by, at, via, or etc. This で is also somewhat tricky to translate as it's meaning kind of gets absorbed along with the 中 (なか).

Examples:

1.) お店の中で待ってください。

Please wait at the shop's inside.

Englishified: Please wait within the shop.

Notice here we're not comparing anything. The Xの中で is about location.

2.) 僕はすべての犬の中でトマトが好きです。

As for me, with all of the dogs' among, I like Tomato.

Englishified: Amongst all of the dogs, I like Tomato.

However, here Xの中で does have a comparison meaning. We are considering all of the dogs in the scenario and have decided Tomato is the one that is liked