比べ

Japanese

Kanji in this term
比
くら Grade: 5
kun'yomi

Alternative spellings
較べ 競べ

Etymology

The 連(れん)用(よう)形(けい) (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of the verb 比(くら)べる (kuraberu, “to compare; to compete”).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) くらべ [kùrábé] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [kɯ̟ɾa̠be̞]

Noun

比(くら)べ • (kurabe) 

1. comparison

   Synonym: 比較 (hikaku)

2. contest, competition

   Synonym: 競争 (kyōsō)

Usage notes

• It is commonly attached after a noun to form a compound term.

Derived terms

• 比べ物 (kurabemono): worthy of comparison
• 比べ物にならない (kurabemono ni naranai): cannot be compared with
• に比べ (ni kurabe): compared to
• 腕比べ (udekurabe): contest
• 背比べ (seikurabe): comparing heights
• 丈比べ (takekurabe): comparison of statures
• 根比べ (konkurabe): endurance contest
• 力比べ (chikarukurabe): contest of strength
• 駆け比べ (kakekurabe): race, footrace
• 我慢比べ (gaman kurabe): contest of endurance
• どんぐりの背比べ, 団栗の背比べ (donguri no seikurabe): having no outstanding characteristics