What does “kuraberu” mean in Japanese?
Native speakers say “kuraberu” to mean ‘to compare’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this verb as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners use “kuraberu” more properly. Then, let’s get started!
Contents
- Definition and meaning of “kuraberu”
- Kurabenai: the nai form of “kuraberu”
- Kurabeyou: the volitional form of “kuraberu”
- Kurabemasu: the masu form of “kuraberu”
- Kerabeta: the ta form of “kuraberu”
- Kurabete: the te form of “kuraberu”
- Kurabereba: the ba form of “kuraberu”
- Summary
Definition and meaning of “kuraberu”
Let me start with the definition and meaning of “kuraberu”.
- kuraberu – 比べる (くらべる) : a verb meaning ‘to compare’ in Japanese.
The definition and meaning are very simple and clear. Then, let me explain how to use this verb through the example sentence below.
Example #1: how to say “compare” in Japanese
sensei wa itsumo seito wo kuraberu – 先生はいつも生徒を比べる (せんせいはいつもせいとをくらべる)
Teachers always compare students.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- sensei – 先生 (せんせい) : a noun meaning ‘teacher’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
- wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “sensei” to make the subject in the sentence.
- itsumo – いつも : an adverb of frequency meaning ‘always’ in Japanese.
- seito – 生徒 (せいと) : a noun meaning ‘student’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
- wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “seito” to make the object in the sentence.
This is a typical usage of “kuraberu”. In the example, it works together with the case particle, “wo”, to have the object. When we want to mean ‘to compare’ in Japanese, anyway, this verb is a very good option.
So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “kuraberu” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “kurabenai”.
Kurabenai: the nai form of “kuraberu”
Below are the definition and meaning of “kurabenai”.
- kurabenai – 比べない (くらべない) : the nai form of “kuraberu”, which means ‘not to compare’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “kurabenai” consists of the following two parts:
- kurabe – 比べ (くらべ) : one conjugation of “kuraberu”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
- nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is very similar to that of “not”.
From these two parts, we can understand that “kurabenai” is literally the nai form of “kuraberu” and means ‘not to compare’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #2: how to say “don’t compare” in Japanese
ii sensei wa seito wo kurabenai – 良い先生は生徒を比べない (いいせんせいはせいとをくらべない)
Good teachers don’t compare students.
Below is the new word used in the example sentence.
- ii – 良い (いい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘good’ in Japanese. In the example, this works as a modifier in front of “sensei”.
This is a typical usage of “kurabenai”. When we want to mean ‘not to compare’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.
Kurabeyou: the volitional form of “kuraberu”
Below are the definition and meaning of “kurabeyou”.
- kurabeyou – 比べよう (くらべよう) : the volitional form of “kuraberu”, which expresses volition to compare.
Grammatically, “kurabeyou” consists of the following two parts:
- kurabe – 比べ (くらべ) : one conjugation of “kuraberu”. This can have a smooth connection with “you”.
- you – よう : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make its volitional form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “kurabeyou” is literally the volitional form of “kuraberu” and expresses volition to compare. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #3: how to say “let’s compare” in Japanese
atarashii kuruma wo kurabeyou – 新しい車を比べよう (あたらしいくるまをくらべよう)
Let’s compare new cars!
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- atarashii – 新しい (あたらしい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘new’ in Japanese.
- kuruma – 車 (くるま) : a noun meaning ‘car’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
This is a typical usage of “kurabeyou”. In this example, it works to make the suggestion. When we want to say “let’s compare” in Japanese, this volitional form is a good option.
Kurabemasu: the masu form of “kuraberu”
Below are the definition and meaning of “kurabemasu”.
- kurabemasu – 比べます (くらべます) : the masu form of “kuraberu”, which means ‘to compare’ politely in Japanese.
Grammatically, “kurabemasu” consists of the following two parts:
- kurabe – 比べ (くらべ) : one conjugation of “kuraberu”. This can have a smooth connection with “masu”.
- masu – ます : an auxiliary verb used after a verb to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese masu form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “kurabemasu” is literally the masu form of “kuraberu” and means ‘to compare’ politely in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #4: how to say “compare” politely in Japanese
watashi no ryoushin wa watashi wo kyoudai to kurabemasu – 私の両親は私を兄弟と比べます (わたしのりょうしんはわたしをきょうだいとくらべます)
My parents compare me with my brothers.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
- no – の : a case particle used after a noun or pronoun to make its possessive case. In the example, this is used after “watashi” to make its possessive case, “watashi no“, which means ‘my’ in Japanese.
- ryoushin – 両親 (りょうしん) : a noun meaning ‘parents’ in Japanese.
- kyoudai – 兄弟 (きょうだい) : a noun meaning ‘brother’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
- to – と : a case particle used to say with whom someone is compared. In the example, this is used after “kyoudai” to say with whom “watashi” is compared.
This is a typical usage of “kurabemasu”. Its politeness has not been reflected in the English sentence, but the Japanese sentence sounds polite thanks to the masu form. When we want to say “compare” politely in Japanese, this form is a good option.
Kerabeta: the ta form of “kuraberu”
Below are the definition and meanings of “kurabeta”.
- kurabeta – 比べた (くらべた) : the ta form of “kuraberu”, which means ‘compared’ or such in Japanese.
Grammatically, “kurabeta” consists of the following two parts:
- kurabe – 比べ (くらべ) : one conjugation of “kuraberu”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
- ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “kurabeta” is literally the ta form of “kuraberu” and means ‘compared’ or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.
Example #5: how to say “compared” in Japanese
boku tachi wa atarashii denki jidousha wo kurabeta – 僕達は新しい電気自動車を比べた (ぼくたちはあたらしいでんきじどうしゃをくらべた)
We compared the new electric cars.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- boku – 僕 (ぼく) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese. This is used mainly by boys and young males.
- tachi – 達 (たち) : a suffix used after a noun or pronoun to make its plural form. In the example, this is used after “boku” to make its plural form, “boku tachi”, which means ‘we’ in Japanese.
- denki – 電気 (でんき) : a noun meaning ‘electricity’ in Japanese. In the example, this works in front of “jidousha” to say “electric cars” in Japanese.
- jidousha – 自動車 (じどうしゃ) : a noun meaning ‘car’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
This is a typical usage of “kurabeta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “kuraberu”, this ta form is the best option.
Kurabete: the te form of “kuraberu”
Below are the definition and meaning of “kurabete”.
- kurabete – 比べて (くらべて) : the te form of “kuraberu”, which means ‘to compare’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “kurabete” consists of the following two parts:
- kurabe – 比べ (くらべ) : one conjugation of “kuraberu”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
- te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “kurabete” is literally the te form of “kuraberu”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “kurabete” is very useful when we want to use “kuraberu” in front of another verb, an adjective, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #6: how to say “please compare” in Japanese
nedan wo kurabete kudasai – 値段を比べてください (ねだんをくらべてください)
Please compare prices.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- nedan – 値段 (ねだん) : a noun meaning ‘price’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
- kudasai – ください : one conjugation of the verb, “kudasaru”, which means ‘to give’ or such in Japanese. When this follows a verb, however, this can work like an auxiliary verb to add the meaning of ‘please’. In the example, this works like an auxiliary verb after “kurabete” to add the meaning of ‘please’.
This is a typical usage of “kurabete”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “kudasai”. When we want to use “kuraberu” in front of another verb like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
Kurabereba: the ba form of “kuraberu”
Lastly, let me explain the definition and meaning of “kurabereba”.
- kurabereba – 比べれば (くらべれば) : the ba form of “kuraberu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to compare’ in Japanese.
Grammatically, “kurabereba” consists of the following two parts:
- kurabere – 比べれ (くらべれ) : one conjugation of “kuraberu”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
- ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.
From these two parts, we can understand that “kurabereba” is literally the ba form of “kuraberu”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “kurabereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to compare’ in Japanese. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.
Example #7: how to say “if compare” in Japanese
kodomo wo kurabereba, karera wa sore ni kizuku – 子供を比べれば、彼等はそれに気付く (こどもをくらべれば、かれらはそれにきづく)
If you compare your children, they will notice it.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kodomo – 子供 (こども) : a noun meaning ‘child’ or ‘kid’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
- karera – 彼等 (かれら) : a pronoun meaning ‘they’ in Japanese.
- sore – それ : a demonstrative pronoun referring to a thing not close to the speaker. In the example, this is used to say “it” in Japanese.
- ni – に : a case particle used to say in which direction an action goes. In the example, this is used after “sore” to indicate the object to which the action described by “kizuku” is directed.
- kizuku – 気付く (きづく) : a verb meaning ‘to notice’ or such in Japanese.
This is a typical usage of “kurabereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “kodomo wo kurabereba”, which means ‘if you compare your children’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to compare’ in Japanese, this ba form is a good option.
Summary
In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “kuraberu” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.
- kuraberu – 比べる (くらべる) : a verb meaning ‘to compare’ in Japanese.
- kurabenai – 比べない (くらべない) : the nai form of “kuraberu”, which means ‘not to compare’ in Japanese.
- kurabeyou – 比べよう (くらべよう) : the volitional form of “kuraberu”, which expresses volition to compare.
- kurabemasu – 比べます (くらべます) : the masu form of “kuraberu”, which means ‘to compare’ politely in Japanese.
- kurabeta – 比べた (くらべた) : the ta form of “kuraberu”, which means ‘compared’ or such in Japanese.
- kurabete – 比べて (くらべて) : the te form of “kuraberu”, which means ‘to compare’ in Japanese. When we want to use “kuraberu” in front of another verb, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
- kurabereba – 比べれば (くらべれば) : the ba form of “kuraberu”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘to compare’ in Japanese.
Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.
Leave a Reply