比 — Compare, Ratio

Meaning

The kanji 比 means to compare — placing two things side by side and measuring the gap between them. In Japanese, it appears whenever something is contrasted, evaluated, or examined relative to something else. Phrases like 「去年と比べて」(compared to last year) and 「比率」(ratio) both hinge on this single character.

Etymologically, 比 is thought to be a pictograph of two people standing side by side, facing the same direction. Put two figures next to each other and comparison becomes natural — who is taller, faster, older? That image of parallel figures gave rise to the meaning of comparison, and knowing it makes the kanji easy to remember.

At just 4 strokes, 比 is one of the simpler kanji at the N2 level — but its reach is wide. It covers abstract concepts like ratio and proportion that Japanese children don't encounter until grade 6. The kanji also serves as its own radical (部首), anchoring a small cluster of related characters.

In math, science, business, and daily conversation, 比 does steady work. Comparing prices, calculating ratios, writing up an annual report — this character shows up across all of them.

Readings

On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings

The on'yomi is ヒ. Inside compound words (熟語), 比 is almost always read as ヒ — especially in academic, scientific, and formal writing. If you see 比 inside a longer word, it's nearly certain to be ヒ.

比較ひかく (hikaku) — comparison; probably the most common compound using 比, appearing in everything from news articles to casual conversation
比率ひりつ (hiritsu) — ratio, proportion; used in mathematics, statistics, and business
比例ひれい (hirei) — proportionality; as in 「正比例」(direct proportion) and 「反比例」(inverse proportion)
比較的ひかくてき (hikakuteki) — comparatively, relatively; a common adverb in natural speech, e.g., 「比較的かんたん」(relatively easy)
対比たいひ (taihi) — contrast; used in literature and art to describe the juxtaposition of two elements
比喩ひゆ (hiyu) — metaphor, simile; the rhetorical act of comparing one thing to another

Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings

The kun'yomi is くら(べる), with okurigana べる. As a standalone verb, 比べるくらべる (kuraberu) means "to compare." It's one of the most used verbs in everyday Japanese — you'll reach for it at the supermarket, at work, and over dinner.

比べるくらべる (kuraberu) — to compare (transitive verb); e.g., 「値段を比べる」(to compare prices)
比べ物にならないくらべものにならない (kurabemono ni naranai) — incomparable, not even in the same league; used when one thing so outclasses another that comparison feels pointless
見比べるみくらべる (mikuraberu) — to compare by looking; to glance back and forth between two things

Common Words & Compounds

比 turns up across a wide range of compound words. Here are the most useful ones by theme:

General Comparison

比較ひかく (hikaku) — comparison
比較的ひかくてき (hikakuteki) — comparatively, relatively
対比たいひ (taihi) — contrast, juxtaposition
比べるくらべる (kuraberu) — to compare (verb)

Mathematics & Science

比率ひりつ (hiritsu) — ratio, proportion
比例ひれい (hirei) — proportionality
比重ひじゅう (hijuu) — specific gravity; also used figuratively to mean "relative importance"
比ひ (hi) — ratio (as a standalone math term, e.g., 3対2の比)

Literature & Rhetoric

比喩ひゆ (hiyu) — metaphor, simile
比喩的ひゆてき (hiyuteki) — figurative, metaphorical
比類ないひるいない (hirui nai) — unparalleled, without equal

Everyday Expressions

日本比にほんひ (nihon hi) — compared to Japan (used in statistical contexts)
前年比ぜんねんひ (zennen hi) — year-on-year comparison; common in business and news
比ひにならない (hi ni naranai) — incomparable, not in the same league

Example Sentences

この店みせの値段ねだんを他ほかの店みせと比くらべてみました。

Kono mise no nedan wo hoka no mise to kurabete mimashita.

I tried comparing the prices at this store with other stores.

去年きょねんと比くらべて、今年ことしの夏なつはとても暑あつい。

Kyonen to kurabete, kotoshi no natsu wa totemo atsui.

Compared to last year, this summer is very hot.

二につの案あんを比較ひかくして、良よい方ほうを選えらびましょう。

Futatsu no an wo hikaku shite, yoi hou wo erabimashou.

Let's compare the two proposals and choose the better one.

この映画えいがは原作げんさくと比くらべ物ものにならないほどつまらない。

Kono eiga wa gensaku to kurabemono ni naranai hodo tsumaranai.

This movie is incomparably more boring than the original work.

前年比ぜんねんひで売上うりあげが20%増加ぞうかしました。

Zennen hi de uriage ga nijuu pasento zouka shimashita.

Sales increased by 20% compared to the previous year.

彼かれの才能さいのうは比類ひるいないと言いわれています。

Kare no sainou wa hirui nai to iwarete imasu.

His talent is said to be unparalleled.

身長しんちょうを兄あにと比くらべると、私わたしの方ほうが低ひくい。

Shinchou wo ani to kuraberu to, watashi no hou ga hikui.

When I compare heights with my older brother, I am shorter.

日本語にほんごと英語えいごを比較ひかくすることで、両方りょうほうの理解りかいが深ふかまります。

Nihongo to eigo wo hikaku suru koto de, ryouhou no rikai ga fukamarimasu.

By comparing Japanese and English, your understanding of both deepens.

この問題もんだいの難むずかしさは比較的ひかくてき低ひくいと思おもいます。

Kono mondai no muzukashisa wa hikakuteki hikui to omoimasu.

I think the difficulty of this problem is comparatively low.

Memory Tip

Picture 比 as two people standing shoulder to shoulder, sizing each other up. Look at the character closely — the left half and right half are near-mirrors: same basic structure, slight differences. Two figures, side by side, similar but not identical. That small gap between "similar" and "identical" is exactly where comparison lives. Whenever you see 比, picture those two figures turning to each other and asking, "Which of us is taller?" — and the answer, of course, requires a comparison.