Practice JLPTHow to tell them apart
にひきかえ highlights a stark, often surprising contrast between two things, typically implying one falls short of or differs sharply from the other. に比べて is more neutral, simply inviting a comparison of measurable qualities. Use にひきかえ for dramatic pairings like 贅沢な食事にひきかえ貧しい食事, and に比べて for factual comparisons like 去年に比べて雨が多い.
- にひきかえ Use にひきかえ when you want to stress a sharp, dramatic contrast between two things.
- に比べると/比べて Use に比べると/比べて when making a neutral, factual comparison of qualities or amounts.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| にひきかえ nihikikae | In contrast to | N1 |
| に比べると/比べて ni beruto bete | Compared with / in comparison to | N3 |
にひきかえ nihikikae
In contrast to
In contrast to ~; while; whereas | A phrase that indicates a sharp contrast.
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16世紀のフランスでは、貴族の食事は贅沢だったのにひきかえ、市民の食事はとても貧しいものだった。
In France in the 16th century, the nobility ate extravagantly while the common people ate very poorly.
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EUについては、経済問題はよく議論されてきたのにひきかえ、文化面の議論があまりなされてこなかった。
Although the EU's economic problems have been frequently debated, its cultural issues have hardly been discussed.
に比べると/比べて ni beruto bete
Compared with / in comparison to
Compared with/to; when compared with/to; in comparison to | If we compare (it) with/to; comparing (it) with.
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この新しい（コンピュータ）モデルは、古いモデルと比べて演算が三倍速くなっている。
When compared with the older (computer) model, the operation speed of this new model is three times as fast.
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今年は去年に比べて雨の日が多いようだ。
In comparison to last year, we seem to have more rainy days this year.
にひきかえ and に比べると/比べて are JLPT N3–N1 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side — meanings, usage and example sentences — so you can tell them apart.