“〜sore yori・sore yori nani yori”: More Importantly (shifting to a more important topic) [JLPT N3]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

「それより、まず仕事を片付けよう」 — never mind that; here's what matters more.

「それより、まず仕事を片付けよう」 — 「それより」, more importantly than that

「服も気になるけど、それより、まず仕事を片付けよう」 (I care about clothes too, but more importantly, let's finish the work first) — 「それより」 means “compared to that, rather than that”: shifting the topic to point out something of higher priority, more important. The intensified 「それより何より」 = “more than anything (most important).” This guide covers 「それより」's topic-shifting function, and separates it from additive 「それに」 and topic-shifting 「ところで」.

Core: shift the topic to “what's more important than that”

The core of 「それより」 is “shifting the topic to a higher-priority, more important matter” — the previous thing (clothes, money) is mentioned, and the speaker uses 「それより」 to say “never mind that, there's something more important,” often implying the first is unimportant or should be set aside:

• Shifting to what's more important: それより、体は大丈夫？ (more importantly, are you okay?).
• それより何より (strongest): それより何より、健康が一番だ (more than anything, health comes first).

Feel: “compared to that (what's more important is) …” — shifting to a higher-priority topic.

How to Connect

Examples in context

• 服も気になるけど、それより、まず仕事を片付けよう。(I care about clothes too, but more importantly, let's finish the work first.) — shift to what matters more
• 「新しい店ができたよ」「へえ。それより、明日の会議の準備はできた？」(“A new shop opened.” “Oh. More importantly, is tomorrow's meeting ready?”) — topic shift
• お金も大事だけど、それより、信頼のほうが大切だ。(Money matters too, but more importantly, trust matters more.) — higher priority
• それより何より、まず健康が一番だ。(More than anything, health comes first.) — strongest
• 細かいことは後で。それより、結論を先に聞かせて。(Details later. More importantly, let me hear the conclusion first.) — shift to the point

⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid

① 「それより」 (shift to what's more important, may dismiss the first) vs 「それに」 (add same-direction). それより = compared to that, more importantly (shifting the topic, setting the first aside) (服より、それより仕事 = never mind clothes, work matters more); それに = and also, on top of that (adding same-direction info, in parallel) (広い。それに明るい = spacious and also bright). それより “shifts, dismisses the first,” それに “adds, stacks same-direction” — opposite directions; don't confuse them.

② 「それより」 often implies the first is ‘unimportant, to be set aside.' Using 「それより」, the speaker usually belittles or shelves the earlier thing, turning to what they find more important (「新しい服？それより、宿題やった？」 = new clothes? more importantly, did you do your homework? — implying clothes aren't important). It carries a “never mind that, more importantly …” turn — use it aware it may seem dismissive of the other's topic.

③ 「それより何より」 = more than anything (superlative emphasis). Adding 「何より」 = “more than anything, most …,” stressing top priority: それより何より、命が大事 (more than anything, life matters), それより何より、まず謝るべきだ (most importantly, you should apologize first). It's the intensified 「それより」, meaning “this is what matters most.”

🔄 Compare: それより／それに／それで／ところで

💡 Quick takeaway

The core of 「それより」 is “shifting the topic to a higher-priority, more important matter” — something is mentioned, and 「それより」 says “never mind that; compared to it, there's something more important” (服より、それより仕事 = never mind clothes, work first; それより、体は大丈夫？ = more importantly, are you okay?). It often implies the first is unimportant, to be set aside, turning to what the speaker finds more worth saying. Two points: ① opposite to 「それに (add same-direction)」 — それより “shifts, dismisses the first,” それに “adds, stacks”; ② 「それより何より」 = more than anything (superlative) (それより何より健康が一番). It's a handy topic-shifter, but since it shelves the other's topic, mind your tone. To “shift to something more important,” それより is spot-on.

❓ Quick FAQ

Q: How do I tell 「それより」 from 「それに」? (both have 「それ」 but opposite directions)

They point in completely opposite directions! 「それより」 = compared to that, more importantly (‘shifting the topic,' setting aside/dismissing the first, turning to a higher priority): 「映画見に行こうよ」「それより、レポート終わったの？」 (“Let's go see a movie.” “More importantly, is your report done?” — shelving the movie, turning to the more important report), 値段も気になるが、それより品質だ (I care about price too, but more importantly, quality). It's the ‘shift, dismiss the first' of “never mind that, B matters more.” 「それに」 = and also, on top of that (‘adding' same-direction info, in parallel, stacking): この店は安い。それに、美味しい (this shop is cheap, and also tasty — stacking two merits), 雨だ。それに、風も強い (it's raining, and windy too — negative stacking). It's the ‘add, stack' of “A, and also B (same direction).” So: “compared to that, more importantly (shift, set aside the first)” → それより; “and also (add, same-direction)” → それに. One sets the first aside and turns to something more important, the other adds one more on top of it — exactly opposite.

Q: What does 「それより何より」 mean?

「それより」 ＋ 「何より」 = “more than anything, what matters most is” — the superlative-intensified version of 「それより」, expressing “this is the very most important, top priority”: それより何より、健康が一番大事だ (more than anything, health matters most), お金も名誉もいいが、それより何より、家族の笑顔が見たい (money and honor are nice, but more than anything, I want to see my family's smiles), それより何より、まず無事でよかった (most of all, I'm just glad you're safe). 「何より」 itself means “more than anything (good/important)” (e.g., 無事で何より = glad you're safe), and added after 「それより」 it intensifies “compared to that” into “more than anything.” So when you see 「それより何より」, the speaker is stressing “the importance of this outweighs all else.” It's stronger and more solemn than 「それより」 alone, fitting the emphasis of a top priority.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「服も気になるけど、___、まず仕事を片付けよう。」(rather than that, let's finish the work first)

(A) それより　(B) そのうえ　(C) それでも　(D) ところが

Q2. 「お金より___、信頼が大切だ。」(more than anything)

(A) 何より　(B) どころか　(C) ばかり　(D) ながら

Q3. 「それより何より健康が一番」の意味は?

(A) More important than anything is health

(B) Health isn't important

(C) Money is more important than health

(D) Unrelated to health

Q4. 「それより」の働きは?

(A) Shifting to a more urgent/important topic (rather than that)

(B) Adding same-direction content

(C) Indicates cause-effect

(D) Indicates concession

Q5. 用法が自然なのは?

(A) それより、本題に入ろう。　(B) それより、そのうえ追加する。

(C) それより何より、どうでもいい。　(D) それよりだから行く。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) それより ── rather than that, deal with work first.

2. (A) 何より ── more than anything (それより何より).

3. (A) ── more important than anything is health.

4. (A) ── shifts to a more urgent topic.

5. (A) ── 「それより本題に入ろう」 is natural.