～に比べて

How to form it

• Noun + に比べて / に比べると / に比べ

Register: Neutral

Explanation

Compares two things and says how they differ. The noun is the standard of comparison.

The sentence often continues with a degree word such as ずっと or はるかに.

Examples

1. 去年に比べて、今年は雨が多い。

   きょねんにくらべて、ことしはあめがおおい。

   Compared with last year, there is more rain this year.

2. 東京は大阪に比べて、物価が高い。

   とうきょうはおおさかにくらべて、ぶっかがたかい。

   Tokyo has higher prices than Osaka.

3. 兄に比べると、私は背が低い。

   あににくらべると、わたしはせがひくい。

   Compared with my older brother, I am short.

Compare with

• ～に対して: に対して contrasts two sides side by side; に比べて measures one against a standard.

Common mistakes

• Using it with the wrong noun as the standard. The noun marked with に比べて is the reference.