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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    Standard

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    一般

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.
  • 東京(とうきょう)の冬(ふゆ)は北海道(ほっかいどう)の冬(ふゆ)に比(くら)べて全然(ぜんぜん)寒(さむ)くない。
    Tokyo's winter is not cold at all compared to Hokkaido.
  • 去年(きょねん)に比(くら)べて今年(ことし)の冬(ふゆ)は温(あたた)かい。
    Compared to last year, this year's winter is warm.
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.
  • 大阪(おおさか)の人口(じんこう)は東京(とうきょう)の人口(じんこう)に比(くら)べて小(ちい)さい。
    Osaka's population is smaller compared to Tokyo.
  • 彼(かれ)も真面目(まじめ)だけど、君(きみ)は彼(かれ)に比(くら)べるともっと真面目(まじめ)だ。
    He is serious too, but you are more serious compared to him.
  • 君(きみ)は彼(かれ)と比(くら)べて真面目(まじめ)だ。
    Compared to him, you are serious. (You are serious, while he has other qualities)
  • 日本(にほん)はアメリカと比(くら)べて小(ちい)さい。
    Compared to America, Japan is small. (Japan is small, compared to America, which is big, among other things)
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

  • 一(いち)学期(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.

  • アメリカに比(くら)べたら、日本(にほん)の方(ほう)が安全(あんぜん)だと思(おも)う。

    I think that when compared to America, Japan is the safer of the two.

  • 他(ほか)の痛(いた)さに比(くら)べて、頭痛(ずつう)は一番(いちばん)辛(つら)い。

    When compared to other types of pain, headaches are the worst.

  • 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.

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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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