Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
Compared to X; In comparison with X.
🎯 Primary Function
To introduce a basis or standard (Noun) against which the following statement (the main clause) is contrasted or measured.
📋 Grammar Structure
Noun + に比べて
Noun + に比べて
Noun + に比べて
Noun + に比べて + [Negative expression]
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Very common in business reports, official documents, and analytical writing.
Informal Situations
Used in daily conversation when making measured, slightly objective comparisons.
Written Language
High frequency in essays, articles, research papers, and news reports.
Spoken Language
Common, but 〜より is often preferred for simple, quick comparisons.
💡 Common Applications
Highlighting Change Over Time
Used to compare a current situation with a past state or standard.
Example: 去年は暖かかったが、今年はそれに比べて寒い。 (Last year was warm, but compared to that, this year is cold.)
Objective Data Comparison
Commonly used in reports, news, and academic settings to compare statistical data or measured facts.
Example: この地域の失業率は、全国平均に比べて低い。 (The unemployment rate in this region is low compared to the national average.)
Contrastive Judgment
Used to contrast two attributes of the same entity or compare two distinct entities based on a characteristic.
Example: 彼は見た目に比べて、行動が慎重だ。 (Compared to his appearance, his actions are cautious.)
Frequency
High, especially in formal written Japanese.
Difficulty
Intermediate (JLPT N3 / N2)
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Example Sentences
Example #1
今年は去年に比べて雨が少ない。
Furigana: ことしはきょねんにくらべてあめがすくない。
Romaji: Kotoshi wa kyonen ni kurabete ame ga sukunai.
English: Compared to last year, the rain this year is scarce.
Example #2
東京の物価は、地方都市に比べて非常に高い。
Furigana: とうきょうのぶっかは、ちほうとしにくらべてひじょうにたかい。
Romaji: Tōkyō no bukka wa, chihō toshi ni kurabete hijō ni takai.
English: The cost of living in Tokyo is extremely high compared to local cities.
Example #3
彼は外見に比べて、とても繊細な心を持っている。
Furigana: かれはがいけんにくらべて、とてもせんさいなこころをもっている。
Romaji: Kare wa gaiken ni kurabete, totemo sensai na kokoro o motte iru.
English: Compared to his appearance, he has a very delicate heart.
Example #4
この新しいモデルは、以前の製品に比べて操作が簡単だ。
Furigana: このあたらしいモデルは、いぜんのせいひんにくらべてそうさがかんたんだ。
Romaji: Kono atarashii moderu wa, izen no seihin ni kurabete sōsa ga kantan da.
English: This new model is easier to operate compared to the previous product.
Example #5
スポーツカーに比べて、ファミリーカーは燃費がいい。
Furigana: スポーツカーにくらべて、ファミリーカーはねんぴがいい。
Romaji: Supōtsukā ni kurabete, famirīkā wa nenpi ga ii.
English: Compared to a sports car, a family car has better fuel efficiency.
Example #6
彼女は他の学生に比べて、日本語の習得が速い。
Furigana: かのじょはほかのせいとにくらべて、にほんごのしゅうとくがはやい。
Romaji: Kanojo wa hoka no gakusei ni kurabete, Nihongo no shūtoku ga hayai.
English: Compared to other students, her acquisition of Japanese is fast.
Example #7
文学作品を読むのは、漫画を読むのに比べて時間がかかる。
Furigana: ぶんがくさくひんをよむのは、まんがをよむのにくらべてじかんがかかる。
Romaji: Bungaku sakuhin o yomu no wa, manga o yomu no ni kurabete jikan ga kakaru.
English: Reading literary works takes more time compared to reading manga.
Example #8
アニメのキャラクターは、現実の人間とは比べ物にならないほど美しい。
Furigana: アニメのキャラクターは、げんじつのにんげんとはくらべものにならないほどうつくしい。
Romaji: Anime no kyarakutā wa, genjitsu no ningen to wa kurabemono ni naranai hodo utsukushii.
English: Anime characters are beautiful to an incomparable degree compared to real people.
Example #9
新しいプロジェクトは、予想していたよりもずっと楽に、前の仕事に比べて早く終わった。
Furigana: あたらしいプロジェクトは、よそうしていたよりもずっとらくに、まえのしごとにくらべてはやくおわった。
Romaji: Atarashii purojekuto wa, yosō shite ita yori mo zutto raku ni, mae no shigoto ni kurabete hayaku owatta.
English: The new project finished much easier and faster compared to the previous job than we expected.
Example #10
昔の日本の生活に比べて、今は色々な面で便利になった。
Furigana: むかしのにほんのせいかつにくらべて、いまはいろいろなめんでべんりになった。
Romaji: Mukashi no Nihon no seikatsu ni kurabete, ima wa iroiro na men de benri ni natta.
English: Compared to life in old Japan, things are now convenient in many different aspects.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Structure is fixed: Noun + に比べて.
The structure must always be Noun + に比べて. The noun establishes the baseline for comparison. This noun can also be a nominalized verb (Vるの).
Example: 日本の夏は、ヨーロッパの夏に比べて湿気が多い。
Objective and Formal Tone: It implies a measurable or verifiable difference.
While the root verb is 比べる (to compare), the set phrase に比べて is used to introduce the comparison, placing emphasis on the contrast that follows.
Example: 去年と比べて、今年は雪が多い。
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ 東京は大阪は物価が高いに比べて。
✅ 東京は大阪に比べて、物価が高い。
The object of comparison (大阪) must be marked with に比べて, not used as the main subject (which should be marked with は).
❌ このスマホは、前の機種比べて軽くて使いやすい。
✅ このスマホは、前の機種に比べて軽くて使いやすい。
Always use the set phrase に比べて. Simply saying 比べて (kurabete) can sound incomplete or informal in this context.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Medium-Formal. It provides a more analytical and objective tone than the simple 〜より, making it suitable for professional discussions.
Social Situations: Appropriate for school presentations, workplace discussions, and measured arguments.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese; no significant regional variations in usage.
🔍 Subtle Differences
〜に比べて (ni kurabete) vs. 〜より (yori)
に比べて is often used for broad, objective, or statistical comparisons, carrying a more formal nuance. 〜より is a simple, direct, and universally used comparison marker.
When to use: Use に比べて when writing reports, making detailed analyses, or aiming for a slightly more sophisticated/objective tone. Use 〜より for quick, daily comparisons.
〜に比べて (ni kurabete) vs. 〜に対する (ni taisuru)
に比べて expresses comparison/contrast. 〜に対する means “in response to” or “vis-à-vis,” expressing relationship or direction toward something, not necessarily comparison.
When to use: Use に比べて only for comparison. Use 〜に対する when discussing reactions or relationships (e.g., 社会に対する意見 – opinions toward society).
📝 Conjugation Notes
「に比べて」 is a fixed phrase derived from the te-form of the verb 比べる (kuraberu), meaning “to compare.” It always follows a Noun. The target of comparison is always the Noun + に.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
The sound “ku-ra-be-te” should be pronounced clearly with a smooth rhythm, emphasizing the initial ‘ku’ and keeping the ‘be’ clear.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of 「比べる」 (kuraberu) as “comparing.” The particle 「に」 points to the thing you are comparing *to*, and the 「て」 form connects it smoothly to the rest of the sentence: “Comparing *to* [Noun], [Result].”
Other Grammar
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