How to say "better" in Japanese

• ましJLPT N1approx.Common
  na-adjectiveCovers 'better' as in the lesser evil: comparing two unappealing things and saying one is less objectionable or more tolerable. Typical when neither option is good and you pick the least-worst.
  彼女かのじょは会社かいしゃの床ゆか掃除そうじよりましな仕事しごとを望のぞんだ。↗

  She wanted a better job than cleaning office floors.
• むしろJLPT N3approx.Common
  adverbMatches 'better' only via its sense 'rather': an adverb opposing one alternative to another, as in 'not A but rather B'. It is not itself a way to say something is better.
  今日きょうはむしろ外出がいしゅつしたくない。↗

  I would rather not go out today.
• 有利ゆうりJLPT N3approx.Common
  na-adjective, nounCovers 'better' as in better off or better placed: advantageous, favourable, stronger. Use it when someone or something holds the advantage — better terms, a stronger position — rather than for general quality.
  その証拠しょうこは彼かれに有利ゆうりであった。↗

  The evidence was in his favor.
• ベターCommon
  na-adjectiveA katakana loanword meaning 'better; preferable'. Use it when weighing two options and calling one the better or preferable one, keeping the flavour of the English word itself.
• まだしもCommon
  adverbCovers 'better' only in the concessive sense 'X would at least be tolerable': granting that one case would be acceptable while the actual one is worse. It is not a general word for 'better'.
  この方ほうがまだしもあれよりよい。↗

  This would be better than that.

Choose 「まし」 for the least-bad of two poor options, 有利 for being better placed or advantaged, and 「ベター」 for a preferable option; 「むしろ」 and 「まだしも」 render 'better' only as 'rather' and 'would at least be tolerable'.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• ましbetter
• むしろrather
• 有利ゆうりadvantageous
• ベターbetter
• まだしもrather
• より良いよりよいbetter
• 格段かくだん(far) better
• 上うえsuperior