比くらべる

く

ら

べ

る

Common wordJLPTN4Freq.FrequencyTop 2,000

Meanings

1

ichidan verb, transitive verb

compare; make a comparison

General comparison of two or more things, qualities, or amounts.

東とう京きょうと大おお阪さかの物ぶっ価かを比くらべてみた。
I compared the cost of living in Tokyo and Osaka.
去きょ年ねんと比くらべて、今年ことしの夏なつ

は

涼すず

しい

。

Compared to last year, this summer is cool.

2

ichidan verb, transitive verb

compete; measure oneself against

Used when people compete or compare their skills, strength, or abilities. The kanji 競べる is occasionally used for this sense.

二人ふたりは腕うで前まえを比くらべ合あった。
The two competed against each other in skill.
彼かれと英えい語ごの力ちからを比くらべてみたい。
I want to measure my English ability against his.

Written forms

比くらべるUsage89%
Standard kanji spelling for comparing and competing.
くらべるUsage9%
較くらべるUsage2%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; 比べる is strongly preferred.
競くらべるUsage<1%
search-only kanji form
Search-only kanji form occasionally used for the competing sense.

Kanji

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

Similar words

比ひ較かくする
More formal and often used in academic or analytical contexts; 比べる is the everyday verb.
競きそう
Focuses on rivalry and striving to win; 比べる in the competing sense emphasizes measuring abilities against another.

Etymology

Derived from classical verb くらぶ (比ぶ/較ぶ), which already carried the meaning of comparing or lining up side by side. The kanji 比 is used for comparison, while 競 is associated with competition.