比べる・較べる|くらべるkuraberu[0]heiban (flat)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Which spelling to use
比べる比べる is the most common form, written with kanji and kana, and is the form beginners should use.
較べる較べる is a rarely used kanji-and-kana variant; when choosing a form, learners should use 比べる instead.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto compare; to make a comparison (between)
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto compete (on); to measure (one's strength, ability, etc. against another's)occ. written as 競べる
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 比べる（くらべる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 比べます（くらべます） |
| Negative (nai) | 比べない（くらべない） |
| polite (masen) | 比べません（くらべません） |
| classical zu / nu | 比べず・比べぬ（くらべず・くらべぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 比べた（くらべた） |
| polite (mashita) | 比べました（くらべました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 比べなかった（くらべなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 比べませんでした（くらべませんでした） |
| Te form | 比べて（くらべて） |
| Potential | 比べられる（くらべられる） |
| Passive | 比べられる（くらべられる） |
| Causative | 比べさせる（くらべさせる） |
| Causative passive | 比べさせられる（くらべさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 比べれば（くらべれば） |
| tara | 比べたら（くらべたら） |
| Volitional | 比べよう（くらべよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 比べましょう（くらべましょう） |
| Imperative | 比べろ（くらべろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym比するひするWrittenWritten. 'Compared with', typically as 「〜に比して」 in formal writing; 「比べる」 is the more colloquial everyday verb.
- Synonym対比たいひWrittenWritten. Sino-Japanese word for contrasting two things, as in 「新旧の対比」; it stresses bringing out the differences.
- Synonym比較ひかくNeutralNeutral. Sino-Japanese word for comparison, as in 「比較的」 and 「価格比較」; more formal in tone than 「比べる」.
- Synonym引き比べるひきくらべるNeutralNeutral. To set things side by side and compare, as in 「両者を引き比べる」; stresses the juxtaposition more than 「比べる」.
- Related対照たいしょうWrittenWritten. Contrast or comparison; also used for stark differences, as in 「対照的な性格」, and in 「対照表」.
- RelatedたぐえるWrittenWritten. A literary, archaic verb for likening one thing to another; virtually never used in modern Japanese.
- Related比量ひりょうWrittenWritten. To compare and weigh; also a technical term in Buddhist logic. Extremely rare.
For comparing, default to 「比べる」. Say 「比較」 in formal contexts, 「〜に比して」 in written prose, 「対比」 to highlight differences, 「対照」 for stark contrast or tables, and 「引き比べる」 for side-by-side comparison. 「類える」 and 「比量」 are rare in modern use.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
