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〜に比べて / 〜に比べ

ni kurabete

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Meaning

"compared to ~", "in comparison with ~".

The thing after に比べて is the baseline; what follows is the comparison. に比べ is more written, に比べると slightly softer.

Comparing years, places, people or prices.

Formation

V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.

  • N + に比べて / に比べ / に比べると
  • Plain form + の + に比べて

Visual diagram

Ways to compare
AspectFeelExample
A は B より〜plain, short今年は去年より暑い
B に比べて A は〜explicit comparison去年に比べて今年は暑い
A は B ほど〜ないA is less than B今年は去年ほど暑くない

Natural examples

  1. 去年に比べて、今年は暑い。

    きょねんにくらべて、ことしはあつい。

    Compared to last year, this year is hot.

  2. 東京に比べると、大阪は物価が安い。

    とうきょうにくらべると、おおさかはぶっかがやすい。

    Compared to Tokyo, prices in Osaka are cheap.

  3. 都会に比べ、田舎は物価が安い。

    とかいにくらべ、いなかはぶっかがやすい。

    Compared with the city, the countryside is cheap.

  4. 兄は弟に比べて、ずっとおとなしい。

    あにはおとうとにくらべて、ずっとおとなしい。

    Compared to his younger brother, the older one is far quieter.

Similar grammar and the difference

Common mistakes

  • ✗
    去年を比べて、今年は暑い。
    ✓
    去年に比べて、今年は暑い。
    Why
    The standard of comparison takes に (or と), not を.
  • ✗
    昔に比べて、今は便利ではない。(intended: not as convenient)
    ✓
    今は昔ほど便利ではない。
    Why
    "Not as X as" is expressed by ほど〜ない; に比べて + a negative sounds odd unless you mean a plain contrast.
  • ✗
    兄が背が高いに比べて
    ✓
    兄が背が高いのに比べて
    Why
    A clause needs の before に比べて.

Variants: 〜に比べると / 〜と比べて / 〜に比べ (written). 〜より is the plain comparative particle; に比べて makes the comparison explicit. Statistics-style sentences often use 〜に比べて〜パーセント増加した.

JLPT N3 tips

On the exam

  • A comparison adjective (高い, 安い, 多い) plus a second item in the sentence = に比べて.
  • If the blank precedes a clause + の, the answer is のに比べて; check for the の.
  • Distractors: に対して (contrast of two different features), にしては (unexpected), より (grammatical but usually not the intended answer when both appear).

Frequently asked questions

What does 〜に比べて / 〜に比べ mean?

"compared to ~", "in comparison with ~". The thing after に比べて is the baseline; what follows is the comparison. に比べ is more written, に比べると slightly softer.

How do you form 〜に比べて / 〜に比べ?

N + に比べて / に比べ / に比べると / Plain form + の + に比べて. V = verb, N = noun, A = adjective.

When is 〜に比べて / 〜に比べ used?

Comparing years, places, people or prices.

What is the difference between 〜に比べて / 〜に比べ and 〜より?

The simple comparative particle. に比べて makes the comparison a topic of the sentence.

What is the difference between 〜に比べて / 〜に比べ and 〜ほど〜ない?

A is not as … as B: comparison of inferiority.

What is a common mistake with 〜に比べて / 〜に比べ?

Wrong: 去年を比べて、今年は暑い。 Right: 去年に比べて、今年は暑い。 The standard of comparison takes に (or と), not を.

Quick check

1 / 5Multiple choiceDifficulty 2 of 5

昔（　　）、今の子供は外で遊ぶ時間が少ない。