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比べ (くらべ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

比くらべ

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

noun, noun, used as a suffix

contest; comparison; competition

usually written using kana alone

Used as a noun or suffix to indicate a contest or comparison, often in compound words like 食べ比べ (taste comparison) or 力比べ (strength contest).

この店みせでは、いろいろな種しゅ類るいのコーヒーの飲のみ比くらべができる。
At this shop, you can do a tasting comparison of various types of coffee.
二人ふたりは腕うで比くらべをすることにした。
The two decided to have a contest of skill.

Written forms

比くらべUsage46%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency news and common usage.
くらべUsage51%
Kana spelling is common and often preferred in everyday writing.
競くらべUsage3%
Alternate kanji form emphasizing competition; very rare.
較くらべ
Alternate kanji form, rarely used in modern writing.

Kanji

比compare, race, ratio
競emulate, compete with, bid
較contrast, compare

Similar words

比ひ較かく
比較 is a more formal, technical term for comparison, often used in academic or analytical contexts, while 比べ is more casual and commonly used in everyday compounds.
競きょう争そう
競争 emphasizes rivalry and competition, often in business or sports, whereas 比べ can simply mean a friendly contest or comparison.

Etymology

Derived from the verb 比べる (to compare). The noun form 比べ is used in compounds to indicate a comparison or contest.