STRUCTURE
N＋に比べて
に比べ
HOW TO USE IT
- Noun + に比べて. In writing, に比べ is also used. It goes in the first part; the second part gives a comment.
- Used to compare two things or two points in time. The predicate is usually affirmative (多い, 安い), but a negative one is also fine.
- For "A is not as ~ as B", Bほど～ない is usually used. For "nothing is as ~ as A", use AほどBはない.
WATCH OUT
×昨日ほど、今日は寒い。
○昨日に比べて、今日は寒い。
Comparative ほど needs a negative predicate. With an affirmative predicate (寒い), use に比べて.
×日本語を比べて、英語は簡単だ。
○日本語に比べて、英語は簡単だ。
The point of comparison takes に. を比べる is used in AとBを比べる (compare A and B).
Examples
去年に比べて、今年は雪が少ない。
きょねんにくらべて、ことしはゆきがすくない。
Compared with last year, there is little snow this year.
都会に比べて、田舎は物価が安いです。
とかいにくらべて、いなかはぶっかがやすいです。
Compared with the city, prices are lower in the countryside.
先月に比べ、今月は仕事が忙しくなった。
せんげつにくらべ、こんげつはしごとがいそがしくなった。
Compared with last month, work has become busier this month.
Often confused with
How each pair differs, with the exam trap in context, is in the Toey lesson.
Practise ～に比べて with drills and review
Start free with N5. N3 drills, audio and review are in JLPT Pro.
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