Japanese grammar · no level in the source

〜いちばん〜ですmeaning and usage

Meaning

A is the most B. Similar to the superlative (most, ...est) in English.

How to form it

  • nounが一番い-adjectiveです
  • nounが一番な-adjective (stem)です
  • nounの中でquestion wordが一番い-adjective/な-adjective (stem)ですか

How it is used

「一番」 before an adjective means 'most' or '-est'. To ask among three or more things, say 「〜の中で何が一番〜ですか」; to compare just two, use 「AよりBのほうが〜」 instead.

Examples

  1. 仕事後のビールが一番おいしいです。

    Beer after work tastes the best.

  2. 家族の中で父が一番背が高いです。

    My father is the tallest in my family.

  3. 果物の中で何が一番好きですか。

    Which fruit do you like best?