How to say "comparison" in Japanese

• 比較ひかくJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbThe general word for comparing two or more things to note similarities and differences. Use this for most senses of 'comparison', such as comparing prices, opinions, or results.
  あなたの答こたえとトムの答こたえと比較ひかくしなさい。↗

  Compare your answer with Tom's.
• 参照さんしょうJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbPrimarily means reference or consultation, as in referring to a dictionary, passage, or footnotes. Its 'comparison' sense is secondary; for ordinary comparison this is not the word you want.
  １０項こうを参照さんしょうして下ください。↗

  Please refer to paragraph ten.
• 対照たいしょうJLPT N2approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers comparison as contrast or antithesis, setting things side by side to highlight their differences. Choose this when 'contrast' fits the English better than neutral comparison.
  以下いかの説明せつめいは多おおくの異ことなる理論りろんを比較的ひかくてき対照たいしょうすることによって得えられたものである。↗

  The explanation below was achieved by comparing and contrasting a variety of different theories.
• くらべCommon
  noun, noun (suffix)Usually written in kana, this word means a contest, competition, or comparison in the sense of pitting things against each other. For comparing things analytically, 比較 is normally the better choice.
• 照合しょうごうJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbComparison in the sense of checking or collating something against another source, or verifying that details match, such as comparing data against records. Not for general comparison.
  私わたしたちは学生がくせいの成績せいせきの照合しょうごうをした。↗

  We made a check of the student' records.

Use 比較 for comparison in general; 照合 for checking or verifying against something; 対照 for contrast; 参照 mainly means reference or consultation; and 「くらべ」 refers to a contest or competition.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 比較ひかくcomparison
• 参照さんしょうreference (e.g. to a dictionary, passage, footnotes)
• 対照たいしょうcontrast
• くらべcontest
• 照合しょうごうcheck (against)
• 比べ物くらべものcomparison
• 比況ひきょうcomparison
• コンパレートcomparison
• 比量ひりょうcomparison
• コンペアcomparison
• 突合とつごうmatching
• 突き合わせつきあわせmatching
• 振り合いふりあいconsideration
• 参看さんかんreference (e.g. to a dictionary, passage, footnotes)
• 対比たいひcomparison
• 比ひmatch
• 類比るいひcomparison
• 見立てみたてcomparison (in haiku, tanka, etc.)