How to tell them apart
に比べて sets a reference point and then makes a relative observation about how something differs from it, as in 去年に比べて今年は暑い. より is the particle that marks the standard of comparison meaning than, as in 東京は大阪より大きい. Thus に比べて frames a baseline for relative judgment while より builds a direct A is more than B comparison.
- に比べると/比べて Use に比べて to show how something stands when measured against a baseline reference.
- より Use より to mark the item that serves as the than standard in a direct comparison.
| Grammar point | Meaning | JLPT level |
|---|---|---|
| に比べると/比べて ni beruto bete | When measured against something else; relative to | N3 |
| より yori | Marks a comparison, meaning 'than' or 'more than' something | N5 |
に比べると/比べて ni beruto bete
When measured against something else; relative to
に比べて and に比べると mark the standard used for comparison, with a meaning like compared with or relative to. They follow a noun directly, as in 前作に比べて or 太陽に比べると, and come from the verb 比べる meaning to compare. The two forms are interchangeable in most cases, and the comparison often pairs with words showing degree like ずっと or もっと.
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物価の上昇率に比べて、賃金が上がっていないんだ。
Compared with the rate of increase in prices, wages aren't going up much.
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彼の最近作は前作に比べて進歩がある。
His latest work is an advance on his previous one.
より yori
Marks a comparison, meaning 'than' or 'more than' something
より marks the standard of comparison and means than. In the pattern AよりB, B has more of some quality than A, as in height, size, or frequency. It follows a noun directly, or a verb in its plain present form like 行くより, and it is often paired with ほうが, もっと, or も for emphasis as よりも. Note the order carefully, since the item before より is the one that loses the comparison.
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ビールよりワインをよく飲みます。
We drink wine more often than beer.
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この本はあの本よりも小さい。
This book is smaller than that one.
に比べると/比べて and より are JLPT N5–N3 grammar points that Japanese learners often mix up. This page compares them side by side on meanings, usage and example sentences, so you can tell them apart.