比: the kanji for compare; ratio
比 is a JLPT N2 kanji that means compare; ratio. Below are its readings, 5 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
比 is written in 4 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
比 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 5 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ヒ (hi)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 比較ひかく · hikaku | comparison |
| 比例ひれい · hirei | proportion |
| 対比たいひ · taihi | contrast |
| 比率ひりつ · hiritsu | ratio |
くらべる (kuraberu)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 比べるくらべる · kuraberu | to compare |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 二つの商品を比較してから買った。Futatsu no shōhin o hikaku shite kara katta.I compared the two products before buying one.
- 去年と比べて、今年は雨が多い。Kyonen to kurabete, kotoshi wa ame ga ōi.Compared with last year, there has been more rain this year.
- 給料は仕事の量に比例するとは限らない。Kyūryō wa shigoto no ryō ni hirei suru to wa kagiranai.Pay is not always in proportion to the amount of work.
- この会社は女性社員の比率が高い。Kono kaisha wa josei shain no hiritsu ga takai.This company has a high ratio of female employees.
- 白と黒の対比が美しい写真だ。Shiro to kuro no taihi ga utsukushii shashin da.It is a photo with a beautiful contrast of black and white.
Questions about 比
How many strokes does 比 have?
比 is written in 4 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 比?
The on readings are hi (ヒ). The kun readings are kuraberu (くらべる).
What JLPT level is 比?
N2. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N2 is designed to match the former Level 2.
More JLPT N2 kanji
Study, language and culture
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 比
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.