いちばん (superlative)
ichiban
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Meaning
"the most ~ / the ~est" among three or more, or within a group.
一番 literally means "number one" and makes a superlative: "the most / the -est". Use it when choosing from three or more, or from a group: クラスで田中さんが一番背が高いです "Tanaka is the tallest in the class". The group takes の中で or で, and the winner takes が. To ask, use a question word + が一番: 何が一番好きですか.
Favourites (food, sport, season), records (highest mountain, biggest city), and questions about "which is the most" in a group.
Formation
V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
Group + の中で + Noun + が + 一番 + adjective ／ Question word + が + 一番 + adjective + か
Visual diagram
- スポーツの中でgroup
- 何question word
- がsubject marker
- 一番the most
- 好きですかadjective + question
Natural examples
スポーツの中で何が一番好きですか。
スポーツの なかで なにが いちばん すきですか。
Among sports, what do you like best?
Group の中で + question word + が + 一番.
クラスで田中さんが一番背が高いです。
クラスで たなかさんが いちばん せが たかいです。
Mr Tanaka is the tallest in the class.
Group で + winner が + 一番.
日本で一番高い山は富士山です。
にほんで いちばん たかい やまは ふじさんです。
The highest mountain in Japan is Mt Fuji.
一番 + adjective + noun: "the highest mountain".
季節の中で春が一番好きです。
きせつの なかで はるが いちばん すきです。
Among the seasons, I like spring best.
の中で for the group, が for the favourite.
家族の中で誰が一番早く起きますか。
かぞくの なかで だれが いちばん はやく おきますか。
In your family, who gets up earliest?
一番 can also modify an adverb (早く).
Similar grammar and the difference
ほうが compares two; 一番 compares three or more. Compare side by side
Question words and the answer to them take が. Compare side by side
Common mistakes
- ✗
- 田中さんは一番背が高いです。(as answer to 誰が)
- ✓
- 田中さんが一番背が高いです。
- Why
- The answer to a が-question uses が.
- ✗
- スポーツの中でどちらが一番好きですか。
- ✓
- スポーツの中で何が一番好きですか。
- Why
- どちら is for two; for a group use 何・誰・どこ・どれ.
- ✗
- 一番の高い山
- ✓
- 一番高い山
- Why
- 一番 goes straight before the adjective.
Question words: 何 (things), 誰 (people), どこ (places), いつ (time), どれ (choosing from a set of items), どの + noun. Answer with が, not は: 田中さんが一番〜.
JLPT N5 tips
On the exam
- の中で or で + a question word + が + blank + adjective → 一番.
- Pick the question word by category: 何 things, 誰 people, どこ places, いつ time, どれ items in a set.
Frequently asked questions
What does いちばん (superlative) mean?
"the most ~ / the ~est" among three or more, or within a group. 一番 literally means "number one" and makes a superlative: "the most / the -est". Use it when choosing from three or more, or from a group: クラスで田中さんが一番背が高いです "Tanaka is the tallest in the class". The group takes の中で or で, and the winner takes が. To ask, use a question word + が一番: 何が一番好きですか.
How do you form いちばん (superlative)?
Group + の中で + Noun + が + 一番 + adjective ／ Question word + が + 一番 + adjective + か. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.
When is いちばん (superlative) used?
Favourites (food, sport, season), records (highest mountain, biggest city), and questions about "which is the most" in a group.
What is the difference between いちばん (superlative) and ほうが?
ほうが compares two; 一番 compares three or more.
What is the difference between いちばん (superlative) and が?
Question words and the answer to them take が.
What is a common mistake with いちばん (superlative)?
Wrong: 田中さんは一番背が高いです。(as answer to 誰が) Right: 田中さんが一番背が高いです。 The answer to a が-question uses が.
Quick check
What goes in ( )? スポーツの 中で 何が（ ）好きですか。