Grammar Info

N3 Lesson 4: 1/21

に比(くら)べてCompared to, When compared to

Structure

Noun + に比(くら)べ（て）(1)

(1) に比(くら)べたら、に比(くら)べれば、に比(くら)べると

Details

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About に比べて

に比(くら)べて is a set expression in Japanese, used when comparing one thing to another. It is often simply translated as '(A) compared to (B)', or 'when comparing (A) to (B)'. 比(くら)べる is a る - Verb that means 'to compare', or 'to contrast'.

に比(くら)べて will be attached directly after a noun, before the (B) part of the sentence will explain the comparison that is being made.

Occasionally, the case marking particle と will be used instead of に. に and と are largely interchangeable in this expression, with に focusing slightly more on the changes/differences between similar features of (A) and (B). Alternatively と often mutually contrasts (A) and (B), discussing their individual/unique characteristics.

Caution

The way that 比(くら)べる is conjugated is not overly important to the sentence, so long as the meaning of 'if', or 'when' is conveyed. Due to this, に比(くら)べたら, に比(くら)べれば, and に比(くら)べると are all possible combinations.

  • 他(ほか)の地域(ちいき)に比(くら)べたら、この地域(ちいき)は住(す)みやすい。
    Compared to other areas, this area is very easy to live in.
  • 去年(きょねん)に比(くら)べれば今年(ことし)は寒(さむ)いけど、昨日(きのう)に比(くら)べたら今日(きょう)は暖(あたた)かい。
    If compared to last year, it is colder this year. However if we compare it to yesterday, it is warm today.
  • 新型(しんがた)のパソコンに比(くら)べるとこのパソコンは遅(おそ)く感(かん)じるけど、そんなに遅(おそ)くない。
    If we compare this computer to a new model, it feels slow, but it's not that slow.

Examples

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    野球(やきゅう)に比(くら)べたら、サッカーの方(ほう)が好(す)きだ。

    When compared with baseball, I like soccer more.

    一学期(いちがっき)に比(くら)べて成績(せいせき)がよくなった。

    My grades have improved compared to first semester.

    昨日(きのう)に比(くら)べたら今日(きょう)は暖(あたた)かい。

    Compared to yesterday, today is warmer.

    去年(きょねん)に比(くら)べて今年(ことし)は雪(ゆき)が多(おお)い。

    Compared to last year, there is more snow.

    昔(むかし)に比(くら)べると、今(いま)の人(ひと)は長生(ながい)きだ。

    People live longer nowadays compared to those in the past.

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      に比べて – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (10 in total)

      • Pablunpro

        Pablunpro

        Hi,
        I have the same exact question. Is there a kind soul that can enlighten us on this?
        Thank you in advance

      • Fuga

        Fuga

        Hey @Tulip and @Pablunpro !

        に比べて and より basically mean the same thing, so you can replace each grammar point with the other. However, they do have a slight difference in nuance. Since this grammar point uses the verb 比べる, ‘to compare’, it is used to emphasize the contrast (A compared to B), while より is used to demonstrate that something is more ~ than something else (B is more something than A).

        It seems like some of the questions for this grammar point did not include a hint for より, so we have just added them!

        I hope this answers your question!

      • Pablunpro

        Pablunpro

        Indeed it does, Fugaさん! お返事ありがとうございます。
        Do have a nice day！

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