比べる

• Reading: くらべる
• Romaji: kuraberu
• Kanji breakdown: 比 (hi/kura) — compare, ratio, match
• Pronunciation: /kɯ.ɾa.be.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To compare; to make a comparison. Examining two or more things to find similarities or differences.

A Group 2 (ichidan) transitive verb. Common patterns include AとBを比べる (compare A and B) and ～に比べて (compared to). Frequently used in essays, reviews, and everyday decision-making.

Examples

1. 二つの商品を比べてから買いました。 I compared the two products before buying.
2. 去年に比べて今年は暖かいです。 Compared to last year, this year is warmer.
3. 他の人と比べないほうがいいですよ。 You shouldn't compare yourself to other people.

Usage Guide

Context: shopping, daily life, discussion

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From the kanji 比 (hi/kura) meaning compare. The kanji depicts two people standing side by side, representing the act of placing things next to each other for comparison.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal