compare

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 比 has 4 strokes and denotes comparing two or more things.
• Basic usage: 比べる is read くらべる, and 比較 is read ひかく.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• What is compared and the reference used
  • 二つのかばんの重さを比べる means comparing the weights of two bags.
  • 去年の写真と比べて means comparing with last year's photograph.
  • を marks what is compared, while と in this example marks the reference used.
• Adding a verb to a noun
  • 比較して is an inflected form of 比較 with する.
  • 三つの机を比較して means comparing three desks.