I found this sentence in an anki deck, which gives its translation as "Give
him the magazine" or something to that effect. I understand the rest of the
sentence but I'm not sure why it has ほう in it, especially since I've mostly
seen that word in the "x より y のほうが” construction.
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2019-10-26T13:39:10.007
72755
2019-10-27T01:24:57.347
35847
question
usage
In the sentence 雑誌のほうは彼に渡してくれ, what does のほう mean?
> 「雑誌{ざっし} **のほう** は彼{かれ}に渡{わた}してくれ。」

There are **two** possible interpretations or meanings for this sentence.
Which one is "correct" would entirely depend on the context.

**1** ) There is one other item mentioned/discussed in the context besides the
magazine and the speaker wants the listener to give/hand only the magazine
(but not the other item) to Person X.

"Give (only) the magazine to him!"

**2)** There is only one item, the magazine, being discussed in the context.
Quite a few native speakers use 「～～の方{ほう}」 because it can make them sound more
**indirect and thus politer** overall than saying 「雑誌は彼に渡してくれ。」, which can
sound a little too direct and possibly curt to some Japanese-speakers.

> I've mostly seen that word in the "x より y のほうが” construction.

Glad you mentioned it. This is related to the first interpretation above. You
have two items at hand and you say one of them is more [adjective]. That is
the one that is serving some kind of purpose for you.
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2019-10-26T14:41:20.473
72756
2019-10-27T01:24:57.347
2019-10-27T01:24:57.347
72755
answer