From jisho, it seems like 何より means best, more important than anything, above
all else, etc. The meaning doesn't change much from that. I have heard
ご無事で何よりです. If I use the meaning in jisho, it will sounds like "most
importantly, you are save/ healthy". From the conversation though, this
translation doesn't seem too cohesive so to say. In other words, it doesn't
fit very well. I judge from my own guts that the more accurate translation of
that phrase is really "it is good to hear that you are save (more then
anything)". I realised that there it still means "more than anything" but
there is also an added nuance that is (probably) more important and that is
"it is good to hear". Am I right on this or is what I am saying utter
gibberish that is meant for the garbage
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2020-07-25T18:47:03.427
78775
2020-07-26T02:59:54.020
31222
question
word-choice
何より meaning in a sentence
何より ＝ Above all else, or sure most importantly

より means more than, though it crops up in places where the translation to
English seems odd to our ears.

This in one good example of where simply knowing the language from a text may
not assist. Why? Because if you really want to speak a language (in this case
Japanese) then you must approach the concepts that you are trying to convey in
the manner that the native speakers would.

So try to listen and use the phrases you hear others using, making sure you
correctly understand their meaning. 何より、諦めずに、勉強を頑張ってください！
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2020-07-25T23:31:32.757
78779
2020-07-25T23:31:32.757
39772
78775
answer
As you have correctly suspected, this type of 何よりだ is a common and polite set
phrase used simply like "(I'm) very glad to hear/see (that)". You have to
remember this usage as a fixed pattern. It can still mean "more important than
anything", depending on the context. Compare the following two sentences:

> 子供には親の健康が何よりです。  
>  For children, the health of the parents is more important than anything.
>
> お母様は健康なようで、何よりです。  
>  I'm glad to hear your mother is healthy.

Other examples:

  * それは何より。  
Glad to hear that.

  * 理解していただければ何よりです。  
I would greatly appreciate if you understand this.
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2020-07-26T02:59:54.020
78791
2020-07-26T02:59:54.020
5010
78775
answer