How to say 'Better' in Japanese | 増し

word

Meaning

Better

Reading

Kanji

増Increase

Explanation

The Japanese adjectival noun '増し (まし)' means 'better' or 'preferable' in a comparative sense. It is often used to express that one situation or option is better than another, especially when both options are not ideal. For example: Being alone is better than being with someone annoying「一人でいる方がましだ」(ひとりでいるほうがましだ). This word is commonly used in contexts where the speaker is choosing the lesser of two evils or expressing a slight improvement. It can also imply a sense of resignation or compromise, as in 'It's not great, but it's better than nothing.'

Part Of Speech

adjectival noun

Kanji JLPT

Kanji Grade

Frequency

5307

Composition

kanji-hiragana

Handwriting