Definition

1. Preposition:

   • Than: Used to introduce the second element in a comparison of inequality (e.g., more, less, better, taller).
   • More than / Over: Used before a numeral or quantity to indicate an amount exceeding that number.

2. Adverb:

   • More: To a greater degree or extent.
   • Better: Used to suggest a preferable alternative.

Usage Examples

• Preposition (Than):

  • Cô ấy thông minh hơn tôi. (She is smarter than I am.)
  • Mùa hè nóng hơn mùa đông. (Summer is hotter than winter.)

• Preposition (More than/Over):

  • Dự án tốn hơn một tỷ đồng. (The project cost more than one billion dong.)
  • Chúng tôi đợi hơn hai tiếng. (We waited for over two hours.)

• Adverb (More):

  • Tôi muốn biết hơn về lịch sử. (I want to know more about history.)
  • Hãy cố gắng hơn nữa. (Try even more.)

• Adverb (Better):

  • Chậm còn hơn không. (Better late than never.)
  • Thà im lặng còn hơn nói sai. (It's better to be silent than to speak incorrectly.)

Advanced Usage

• "hơn là": Used to mean "rather than," emphasizing a strong preference in a comparison.

  • Tôi thích đọc sách hơn là xem TV. (I prefer reading books rather than watching TV.)

• "hơn cả": Means "more than all" or "above all," used for emphasis.

  • Điều đó quan trọng hơn cả. (That is the most important thing of all.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hơn hẳn (adv): Clearly better/more than; surpasses by a wide margin.

  • Chiếc xe mới này tốt hơn hẳn chiếc cũ. (This new car is far better than the old one.)

• Hơn kém (v): To differ by (a certain amount); to have a small difference.

  • Hai đội chơi ngang sức, tỉ số hơn kém nhau không đáng kể. (The two teams are evenly matched, the score differs insignificantly.)

Synonyms

• Than: in comparison to (as a conjunction/preposition).
• More: a greater amount or degree.
• Exceed: to be greater than.

Related Idioms

• Hơn thua: To compete or argue over who is better; to have a rivalry.

  • Đừng hơn thua với anh em trong nhà. (Don't compete with your siblings at home.)

• Hơn đứt: To be much better; to surpass completely.

  • Tay đua mới hơn đứt đối thủ. (The new racer completely surpassed his opponent.)

conj

1. more than
   • nó cao hơn tôi
     He is taller than I
2. Better
   • chậm còn hơn không
     Better late than never