に比べて
🃏 Flashcard
に比べて
ni kurabete
Tap to reveal usage
compared to~; in comparison to~
N3
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N3
Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast
Reading
ni kurabete
Post ID
50890
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
compared to~; in comparison to~
📖 How to use it
This pattern compares two things, saying one is [adjective] compared to the other.
Attaches to
Attach に比べて to a noun or noun phrase. The noun can be a person, object, place, or concept. For verbs or adjectives, use their nominalized forms or quote them with の/こと.
に比べて is used to state a comparison, often in written or formal spoken Japanese. It follows a noun and sets up the standard of comparison. For example, 日本に比べて、アメリカは広いです means 'Compared to Japan, America is big.' The pattern highlights a difference, and the predicate usually describes the subject with an adjective or statement of degree.
You can also use に比べて with numbers or quantities to express relative differences, like 去年に比べて、今年は暑いです. In casual conversation, より is more common, but に比べて sounds more objective and analytical, so it is frequent in reports, essays, and news.
東京に比べて、大阪の方が物価が安いです。
Tōkyō ni kurabete, Ōsaka no hō ga bukka ga yasui desu.
Compared to Tokyo, Osaka has lower prices.
去年に比べて、今年は雨が多いです。
Kyonen ni kurabete, kotoshi wa ame ga ōi desu.
Compared to last year, it rains more this year.
日本語に比べて、英語の方が発音が難しいと思います。
Nihongo ni kurabete, Eigo no hō ga hatsuon ga muzukashii to omoimasu.
Compared to Japanese, I think English pronunciation is more difficult.
Not より
より is a direct comparison marker meaning 'than' and is used in everyday speech, while に比べて is more formal and often implies a broader, more analytical comparison. Also, に比べて can be used at the beginning of a sentence as a phrase, whereas より is placed directly after the noun being compared.
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に比べて is relatively formal and is common in written language, news, and presentations; in casual conversation, より is preferred.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
に比べて
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat に比べて three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using に比べて. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N3 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern に比べて mean?
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Compared to~; in comparison to~
What JLPT level is に比べて?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use に比べて in a sentence?
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Attach に比べて (ni kurabete) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is に比べて formal or casual Japanese?
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に比べて is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember に比べて long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.