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JLPT N3 · Degree & extent

に比（くら）べて (ni kurabete)

～に比べて — compared with ～

In short · Sets one thing beside another as a standard of comparison: “compared with ～.” The noun after に is the standard, and the main clause describes the thing being judged. It can be used for people, places, times and so on.
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Pattern

  • 名詞＋に比べて noun + に比べて (去年に比べて)
  • 普通形＋の＋に比べて clause + のに比べて (思ったのに比べて)

Showing the standard

In AはBに比べて〜, B is the standard and the degree of A is described against it. The standard comes first, as in 去年に比べて、今年は雨が多い. In writing, に比べ is also used.

Compared with similar forms

It works like より, but に比べて sits easily at the start of a sentence and signals a comparison clearly. 〜と比べると means the same. To use something other than a noun as the standard, add の after the plain form and then に比べて.

Examples

  • 去年（きょねん）に比（くら）べて、今年（ことし）は雨（あめ）が多（おお）い。

    Kyonen ni kurabete, kotoshi wa ame ga ōi.

    Compared to last year, there's more rain this year.

    Last year is the standard.

  • 都会（とかい）に比（くら）べて、田舎（いなか）は物価（ぶっか）が安（やす）い。

    Tokai ni kurabete, inaka wa bukka ga yasui.

    Compared with the city, the countryside has cheaper prices.

    Comparing two places.

  • 以前（いぜん）に比（くら）べて、この駅（えき）はずいぶん便利（べんり）になった。

    Izen ni kurabete, kono eki wa zuibun benri ni natta.

    Compared with before, this station has become much more convenient.

    Comparing past and present.

Common mistakes

  • The standard is the noun before に. Do not mix it up with the thing being judged: AはBに比べて (B is the standard).
  • The main clause states the result of the comparison. Unlike より, you do not need 〜のほうが.

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