JLPT N3 grammar

〜に比べて／に比べmeaning and usage

Meaning

When compared to A

This point is also listed at N2.

How to form it

  • nounに比べて/に比べ
  • verb (dictionary form)のに比べて

How it is used

'Compared with A': compares the degree of two things; 「に比べ」 is more formal. Compared with plain 「より」, it puts more weight on what is being compared, and the second half usually states a difference in degree.

Examples

  1. 漢字が六千以上もある中国語に比べて日本語は学びやすいと思います。

    Compared to Chinese with its 6000-plus kanji, I think Japanese is easy to study.

  2. 今年の夏は、去年に比べて雨が少ない。

    This summer there's been less rain than last year.

  3. 電車で行くのに比べて、バスは時間がかかる。

    Compared with going by train, the bus takes longer.