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N3

に比べて

にくらべて

Compared to, When compared to

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.

Explanation

「~に比べて」 means 'compared to'. The first part is the standard of comparison, and the second says how something else differs or ranks: 「今年は去年に比べて雨が多い」 (There's more rain this year than last year). Before it you can have a noun, or dictionary form + 「のに比べて」. Before a noun use 「に比べた」 or 「に比べての」.

Mixed up with

「より」 is the basic comparison: 「AはBより大きい」.

「に比べて」 feels more like holding one up against a reference, and often goes with 「ずっと」 or 「格段に」.

「に比べて」 is about differences in degree or amount; 「に対して」 is a sharp contrast between two sides (the older brother is outgoing, whereas the younger is shy), or an attitude toward a person.

Examples

  1. 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少すくない。

    Osaka's population is smaller than Tokyo's.

  2. 去年きょねんに比くらべて今年ことしの冬ふゆは暖あたたかい。

    Compared to last year, this year's winter is warm.

  3. 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.

Tested 5 times in past papers

N2 · Dec 2022, Q45N3 · Dec 2018, Q39N3 · Dec 2014, Q37N3 · Jul 2013, Q38N3 · Dec 2011, Q40