Comparing Two Short Texts

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to read two short Japanese texts and identify similarities and differences between them using basic comparison words and phrases.

When comparing two texts in Japanese, we often use words like 同じ (onaji - same) and 違う (chigau - different). We also use 〜は〜が、〜は〜 structure to contrast two subjects. This skill helps you understand nuanced information, like comparing two restaurants, two people's schedules, or two product descriptions.同違

1. Key Comparison Words

• 同じ (onaji) - same同
• 違う (chigau) - different違
• 〜も〜 - also (used to show similarity)
• 〜は〜が、〜は〜 - "As for A..., but as for B..." (contrast)

2. Structure for Similarities

To say two things are the same:

• AもBも〜 (Both A and B...)
• AとBは同じです (A and B are the same)同

3. Structure for Differences

To say two things are different:

• Aは〜が、Bは〜 (A is..., but B is...)
• AとBは違います (A and B are different)違

Example 1: Two Restaurants

Text A: このレストランは安いです。そして、おいしいです。
(Kono resutoran wa yasui desu. Soshite, oishii desu.)
This restaurant is cheap. And it's delicious.安

Text B: あのレストランは高いです。でも、おいしいです。
(Ano resutoran wa takai desu. Demo, oishii desu.)
That restaurant is expensive. But it's delicious.高

Comparison:

• 同じ (Onaji - Same): どちらもおいしいです。(Dochira mo oishii desu.) Both are delicious.同
• 違う (Chigau - Different): このレストランは安いですが、あのレストランは高いです。(Kono resutoran wa yasui desu ga, ano resutoran wa takai desu.) This restaurant is cheap, but that restaurant is expensive.違安高

Example 2: Two People's Hobbies

Text A: 田中さんは毎週テニスをします。そして、料理もします。
(Tanaka-san wa maishuu tenisu o shimasu. Soshite, ryouri mo shimasu.)
Tanaka plays tennis every week. And he also cooks.田中毎週料理

Text B: 鈴木さんは毎週テニスをします。でも、料理はしません。
(Suzuki-san wa maishuu tenisu o shimasu. Demo, ryouri wa shimasen.)
Suzuki plays tennis every week. But he doesn't cook.鈴木毎週料理

Comparison:

• 同じ (Onaji - Same): 二人とも毎週テニスをします。(Futari tomo maishuu tenisu o shimasu.) Both play tennis every week.同二人毎週
• 違う (Chigau - Different): 田中さんは料理をしますが、鈴木さんは料理をしません。(Tanaka-san wa ryouri o shimasu ga, Suzuki-san wa ryouri o shimasen.) Tanaka cooks, but Suzuki doesn't cook.違田中料理鈴

Example 3: Two Cities

Text A: 東京は人が多いです。そして、電車が便利です。
(Toukyou wa hito ga ooi desu. Soshite, densha ga benri desu.)
Tokyo has many people. And the trains are convenient.東京人多電車

Text B: 京都は人が少ないです。でも、電車が便利です。
(Kyouto wa hito ga sukunai desu. Demo, densha ga benri desu.)
Kyoto has few people. But the trains are convenient.京都人少電車

Comparison:

• 同じ (Onaji - Same): どちらの都市も電車が便利です。(Dochira no toshi mo densha ga benri desu.) Both cities have convenient trains.同都市電車便
• 違う (Chigau - Different): 東京は人が多いですが、京都は人が少ないです。(Toukyou wa hito ga ooi desu ga, Kyouto wa hito ga sukunai desu.) Tokyo has many people, but Kyoto has few people.違東京人多都

❌ Using でも (demo) in the middle of a sentence

• Wrong: 東京は人が多いでも、京都は人が少ない。東京人多都少
• Right: 東京は人が多いですが、京都は人が少ないです。東京人多都少

Tip: でも (demo) starts a new sentence. Use が (ga) to connect two contrasting clauses in one sentence.

Read these two short texts and answer the questions:

Text A: 私の町は静かです。そして、公園がたくさんあります。
(Watashi no machi wa shizuka desu. Soshite, kouen ga takusan arimasu.)
My town is quiet. And there are many parks.私町静公園

Text B: 友達の町はにぎやかです。でも、公園がたくさんあります。
(Tomodachi no machi wa nigiyaka desu. Demo, kouen ga takusan arimasu.)
My friend's town is lively. But there are many parks.友達町公園

1. What is the same about both towns?
Answer: どちらも____________がたくさんあります。
(Dochira mo ____________ ga takusan arimasu.)

2. What is different about the two towns?
Answer: 私の町は____________ですが、友達の町は____________です。
(Watashi no machi wa ____________ desu ga, tomodachi no machi wa ____________ desu.)私町友達

(Answers: 1. 公園 / kouen, 2. 静か / shizuka, にぎやか / nigiyaka)公園静

You learned how to:

• Use 同じ (onaji) and 違う (chigau) to state similarities and differences同違
• Use Aは〜が、Bは〜 to contrast two subjects
• Use どちらも〜 to say "both are..."

Next Step: Practice with longer texts (3-4 sentences each). Try comparing two job advertisements or two travel itineraries in Japanese. This skill is essential for the reading section of the JLPT N4!