Question which one is better?

AkikoKurusugawa

Registered

5 Jun 2020

5

0

• 25 Jul 2020

• #1

hello, I am trying to improve my Japanese. I took a break from learning Japanese and now there are some grammar points I'm not too familiar on.

Right now, I want to learn if there are different situations to use 一番 and 最も.

For example, for "what do you believe in the most?" Is it better or more natural to say 一番信じているものは何ですか or 最も信じているものは何ですか? Are these two questions better phrased this way or as 何はあなたの[一番/最も]信じているものですか. Or I am totally wrong and there's a way better way to say this?

Please advise.

 

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

Moderator

Fifteen-year veteran

22 Feb 2008

18,266

4,926

• 25 Jul 2020

• #2

最も and 一番 are the same in meaning as an adverb, but the former sounds more formal, and the latter is more casual.
一番 can be used also as a noun "no.1", "the best one" or "the first one", but 最も is only used as an adverb.

〇テストで一番を取った。
×テストで最もを取った。

〇テストで一番の点数を取った。
×テストで最もの点数を取った。

〇一番に（＝最初に）家を出た。
×最もに家を出た。
(最も家を出た。 can be valid in a context, but the meaning of 最も is "the most frequently", not "first".)

AkikoKurusugawa said:

Are these two questions better phrased this way or as 何はあなたの[一番/最も]信じているものですか.

Click to expand...

It should be 何が.

 

AkikoKurusugawa

Registered

5 Jun 2020

5

0

• 25 Jul 2020

• Thread starter
• #3

So the sentences are correct? Thank you very much!

 

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

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Fifteen-year veteran

22 Feb 2008

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4,926

• 25 Jul 2020

• #4

Yes, except 何は.

 

AkikoKurusugawa

Registered

5 Jun 2020

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• 26 Jul 2020

• Thread starter
• #5

Thank you