The English verb “compare” fundamentally means to estimate, measure, or note the similarity or dissimilarity between two or more items, people, concepts, or situations. It involves looking at entities side-by-side, either literally or figuratively, to identify shared characteristics or points of divergence. This process can be objective, like comparing technical specifications, or subjective, like comparing artistic styles.
When translating this concept into Bengali, there isn’t always a single, one-size-fits-all word. The most common and direct translation is তুলনা করা (tulona kora). This phrase accurately captures the general act of examining similarities and differences.
However, depending on the specific context and the nuance intended, other Bengali words and phrases might be more appropriate:
- মিল করা (mil kora): This often emphasizes finding similarities or matching things up. It can be used when checking if two things are alike or correspond. For instance, comparing two samples to see if they match.
- যাচাই করা (jachai kora): This implies a comparison done for the purpose of verification, checking, or scrutinizing. When you compare a statement with facts,
যাচাই করা
might fit better thanতুলনা করা
. - উপমা দেওয়া (upoma dewa): This is used specifically in a literary or figurative sense, meaning to liken something to another, often using similes or metaphors. While it involves comparison, its usage is more restricted to creating analogies.
Therefore, while তুলনা করা (tulona kora) serves as the primary equivalent for the Compare meaning in Bengali, understanding the context helps in choosing the most precise term, whether it’s general comparison, finding matches, verifying facts, or drawing figurative parallels.
Compare অর্থ কি?
ইংরেজিতে “Compare” শব্দটির মূল বাংলা অর্থ হলো তুলনা করা (tulona kora)।
এর মানে হলো দুটি বা তার বেশি জিনিস, ব্যক্তি, ধারণা বা পরিস্থিতির মধ্যে মিল (সাদৃশ্য) বা অমিল (পার্থক্য) বিচার করা, পরিমাপ করা বা লক্ষ্য করা। যখন আমরা দুটি জিনিসের বৈশিষ্ট্য পাশাপাশি রেখে দেখি কোনটা ভালো বা কোনটা ভিন্ন, তখন আমরা তুলনা করি।
কিছু বিশেষ ক্ষেত্রে, প্রসঙ্গের উপর নির্ভর করে অন্য কিছু বাংলা শব্দও ব্যবহার করা যেতে পারে, যেমন:
- মিল করা (mil kora): যখন দুটি জিনিস একরকম কিনা বা একটার সাথে আরেকটা মিলছে কিনা তা দেখা হয়।
- যাচাই করা (jachai kora): যখন কোনো কিছু পরীক্ষা বা সত্যতা নিরূপণের জন্য তুলনা করা হয়।
- উপমা দেওয়া (upoma dewa): যখন কোনো কিছুকে অন্য কিছুর সাথে সাহিত্যিকভাবে বা আলঙ্কারিকভাবে তুলনা করা হয় (যেমন – চাঁদের মতো মুখ)।
“Compare” শব্দটির বাংলা উচ্চারণ হলো: কম্পেয়ার (Kompēẏār)।
সুতরাং, “Compare” এর প্রধান অর্থ তুলনা করা হলেও, বাক্যের ভাব অনুযায়ী সঠিক শব্দটি বেছে নেওয়া জরুরি।
Examples
Seeing the word “compare” used in sentences and their corresponding Bengali translations helps solidify understanding. Here are some examples illustrating the Compare meaning in Bengali in various contexts:
- English: Please compare the prices of these two laptops.Bengali: অনুগ্রহ করে এই দুটি ল্যাপটপের দাম তুলনা করুন। (Onugroho kore ei duṭi lyāpṭôpēr dām tulonā korun.)(Here, তুলনা করা is used for a straightforward comparison of features/prices.)
- English: It’s not fair to compare apples and oranges.Bengali: আপেল আর কমলার তুলনা করা ঠিক না। (Āpēl ār kômôlār tulonā kora ṭhik na.)(This common idiom translates directly using তুলনা করা.)
- English: The scientist compared the results of the two experiments.Bengali: বিজ্ঞানী দুটি পরীক্ষার ফলাফল তুলনা করেছেন। (Biggyani duṭi pôrikkhār fôlafôl tulonā korechhen.)(Standard use for analytical comparison.)
- English: How does this new software compare with the previous version?Bengali: এই নতুন সফটওয়্যারটি আগের সংস্করণের সাথে কেমন তুলনা করা যায়? (Ei notun sôfṭōẏyārṭi āgēr sôngskôrôṇēr sathē kæmôn tulonā kora jāẏ?) or আগের সংস্করণের তুলনায় এটি কেমন? (Āgēr sôngskôrôṇēr tulônāẏ ēṭi kæmôn?)(Comparing versions, often focusing on improvements or differences.)
- English: She compared her notes with her friend’s notes.Bengali: সে তার বন্ধুর নোটের সাথে নিজের নোট মিলিয়ে দেখল। (She tār bondhur noṭēr sāthē nijēr noṭ miliẏē dekhlô.)(Here, মিলিয়ে দেখা (miliye dekha) or মিল করা (mil kora) could be more fitting than তুলনা করা, as the focus is on checking for correspondence or discrepancies.)
- English: The poet compared his lover’s eyes to the stars.Bengali: কবি তার প্রেমিকার চোখকে তারার সাথে উপমা দিয়েছেন। (Kobi tār prēmikār chōkhkē tārār sāthē upomā diẏechhen.)(In this literary context, উপমা দেওয়া is the precise term for figurative comparison.)
- English: Compared to last year, our sales have increased significantly.Bengali: গত বছরের তুলনায়, আমাদের বিক্রি উল্লেখযোগ্যভাবে বৃদ্ধি পেয়েছে। (Gôtô bôchhôrēr tulônāẏ, āmādēr bikri ullēkhjōggôbhābē br̥ddhi pēẏechhē.)(Using the noun form “তুলনায়” (tulônāẏ) meaning “in comparison to”.)
These examples showcase how the core meaning translates often to তুলনা করা
, but context might suggest nuances captured by মিল করা
or উপমা দেওয়া
.
Synonyms
Synonyms are words that have similar meanings. Exploring synonyms for “compare” can help refine understanding and provide alternative ways to express the core concept.
- Contrast: To compare in order to show unlikeness or differences. While “compare” can look for both similarities and differences, “contrast” specifically emphasizes the differences.
- Bengali equivalent: বৈসাদৃশ্য দেখানো (bôisadr̥śyô dækhano), পার্থক্য করা (parthôkkô kora).
- Juxtapose: To place different things side by side (either physically or in abstract) to highlight contrasts or comparisons.
- Bengali equivalent: পাশাপাশি রাখা (pāśāpāśi rakha) (often implying comparison).
- Liken: To point out resemblances; to represent as similar. This is closer to the figurative use of compare.
- Bengali equivalent: উপমা দেওয়া (upoma dewa), সদৃশ মনে করা (sôdr̥ś mone kora).
- Match: To find something that corresponds or is similar to another. Often used when pairing items.
- Bengali equivalent: মিল করা (mil kora), মেলানো (mēlano).
- Correlate: To have a mutual relationship or connection, in which one thing affects or depends on another. Comparison is often used to find correlations.
- Bengali equivalent: সম্পর্কযুক্ত করা (sômpôrkojuktô kora), সহসম্বন্ধ নির্ণয় করা (shôhôsômbôndhô nirṇôẏ kora).
- Weigh: To assess the nature or importance of, especially with a view to making a decision; often involves comparing options or factors.
- Bengali equivalent: বিচার-বিবেচনা করা (bichar-bibechona kora) (implying comparison of pros and cons).
- Parallel: To be similar or analogous to something else. Also used as a verb meaning to compare or show analogy.
- Bengali equivalent: সমান্তরাল হওয়া (shômantôral hôoa), তুলনা করা (tulona kora) (in the sense of drawing parallels).
Understanding these synonyms helps appreciate the specific angle of comparison being employed – whether it’s focusing on differences (contrast), similarity (liken, match), relationship (correlate), evaluation (weigh), or side-by-side placement (juxtapose).
Antonyms
Antonyms are words with opposite meanings. Understanding words opposite to “compare” helps clarify its boundaries. While a perfect antonym is difficult (as the opposite could be “not comparing” or “focusing only on differences”), here are concepts that stand in contrast:
- Differentiate: To identify the differences between two or more things. While comparison can involve finding differences, “differentiate” focuses exclusively on this aspect, making it conceptually opposite to looking for similarities within a comparison.
- Bengali equivalent: পার্থক্য করা (parthôkkô kora), প্রভেদ করা (prôbhēd kora).
- Distinguish: Similar to differentiate, it means to recognize or treat (someone or something) as different.
- Bengali equivalent: পার্থক্য করা (parthôkkô kora), চেনা (chena) (in the sense of identifying distinct features).
- Contrast: As noted, “contrast” can be a synonym when comparison involves looking at differences, but it acts as an antonym to the aspect of comparison that seeks similarities.
- Ignore/Disregard: To refuse to take notice of or acknowledge. If you ignore two items, you are actively not comparing them.
- Bengali equivalent: উপেক্ষা করা (upēkkhā kora), অগ্রাহ্য করা (ôgrāhyô kora).
- Separate: To cause to move or be apart. Keeping things separate is the opposite of bringing them together for comparison.
- Bengali equivalent: আলাদা করা (ālāḍā kora), পৃথক করা (pr̥thôk kora).
- Conflate: To combine two or more sets of information, texts, ideas, etc., into one, often erroneously treating them as the same. This is the opposite of careful comparison which respects distinctions.
- Bengali equivalent: গুলিয়ে ফেলা (guliẏē phēlā), এক করে ফেলা (æk kôre phēlā).
These antonyms highlight that comparing involves actively examining items together, seeking both similarities and differences, rather than ignoring them, separating them, focusing solely on differences, or wrongly merging them.
Grammar
Understanding the grammatical behavior of “compare” is essential for using it correctly in sentences.
- Word Class: “Compare” is primarily used as a verb. It is typically a transitive verb, meaning it takes a direct object (the things being compared).
- Example: She compared the two documents. (
two documents
is the direct object). It can sometimes be used intransitively, especially with phrases like “compare with/to”. - Example: How does this compare with the original? (Here, “compare” doesn’t take a direct object in the same way).
- Example: She compared the two documents. (
- Forms and Inflections:
- Base Form: compare
- Past Tense: compared
- Past Participle: compared
- Present Participle / Gerund: comparing
- Third-Person Singular Present: compares (e.g., He compares…)
- Related Forms:
- Noun:Comparison (e.g., “We made a comparison.”)
- Bengali: তুলনা (tulonā)
- Adjective:Comparable (meaning similar or able to be compared) (e.g., “The results are comparable.”)
- Bengali: তুলনীয় (tulônīẏô)
- Adjective:Comparative (meaning relative, or relating to comparison) (e.g., “a comparative study,” “comparative advantage”). Also refers to the grammatical form of adjectives/adverbs like “bigger,” “faster.”
- Bengali: তুলনামূলক (tulônāmulôk)
- Noun:Comparison (e.g., “We made a comparison.”)
- Prepositions Used with Compare: A common point of confusion is whether to use “compare to” or “compare with“.
- Compare to: Often used when highlighting similarities, especially between things of different classes, or when making a figurative comparison (likening).
- Example: He compared her voice to a nightingale’s song. (Different classes, figurative)
- Example: Compared to our previous house, this one is huge. (Highlighting a general similarity/difference in scale).
- Compare with: Often used when examining both similarities and differences between things of the same general class, typically in a more detailed or analytical way.
- Example: We compared the new model with the old one feature by feature. (Same class, detailed analysis).
- Note: In modern usage, this distinction is not always strictly observed, and “compare with” and “compare to” are often used interchangeably, especially in informal contexts. However, being aware of the traditional distinction can add precision.
- Compare to: Often used when highlighting similarities, especially between things of different classes, or when making a figurative comparison (likening).
In Bengali, the verb তুলনা করা (tulona kora)
is a compound verb (যুক্ত ক্রিয়া – juktô kriẏa), formed from the noun তুলনা (tulonā)
and the verb করা (kora - to do)
. The grammatical variations apply to the করা
part (e.g., করে (kore), করেছিল (korechhilo), করবে (korbe), করছে (korchhe)). The comparison is often indicated using postpositions like সাথে (sathē - with)
or genitive case markers like -র/-এর (-r/-er - of)
combined with তুলনায় (tulônāẏ - in comparison to)
.
Uses
The action of comparing has wide-ranging applications in various aspects of life and knowledge. Understanding these uses helps grasp the versatility of the Compare meaning in Bengali (তুলনা করা
and its variants).
- Decision Making: Perhaps the most common use. We compare options before making a choice – products, services, job offers, travel destinations, etc. We weigh pros and cons, features, and costs.
- Example: Comparing different phone plans to find the best value.
- Analysis and Evaluation: In academic, scientific, and business contexts, comparison is crucial for analysis.
- Examples: Comparing data sets to identify trends, comparing experimental results against a control group, comparing a company’s performance year-over-year, evaluating different strategies by comparing their outcomes.
- Understanding and Learning: We often learn about something new by comparing it to something familiar. Analogies and metaphors are forms of comparison used for explanation.
- Example: Explaining electricity flow by comparing it to water flowing in a pipe.
- Setting Standards and Benchmarks: Comparison is used to establish standards or measure against them.
- Figurative Language: In literature and everyday speech, comparison creates vivid imagery and conveys meaning through similes and metaphors.
- Example: “He is as brave as a lion.” (Comparing his bravery to that of a lion). In Bengali, this often uses
উপমা দেওয়া
.
- Example: “He is as brave as a lion.” (Comparing his bravery to that of a lion). In Bengali, this often uses
- Showing Relationships: Comparing different variables can help establish correlations or lack thereof.
- Example: Comparing levels of education with income levels in a population.
- Self-Assessment: Individuals compare their progress, skills, or situations to others or to their past selves to gauge improvement or standing.
- Example: Comparing your current running speed to your speed last month.
In all these uses, the fundamental act remains the same: examining two or more entities to understand their relationship in terms of similarity and difference, which directly relates to the core Compare meaning in Bengali, তুলনা করা
.
Related Phrases
Several English idioms and phrases use the word “compare” or relate strongly to the concept of comparison.
- Compare notes: To share information or opinions about something experienced in common, to see if they match or differ.
- Meaning: Exchange views or information.
- Bengali explanation: অভিজ্ঞতা বা মতামত বিনিময় করা, একে অপরের তথ্যের সাথে মিলিয়ে দেখা (ôbhiggôta ba môtamôt binimôẏ kôra, æke ôpôrer tôthyer sāthē miliẏē dækhā).
- Beyond compare / Without compare: Used to express that something is so good or unique that nothing else is of the same quality or level.
- Meaning: Unsurpassed, incomparable.
- Bengali equivalent: অতুলনীয় (ôtulônīẏô), যার তুলনা হয় না (jar tulonā hôẏ na).
- (Like comparing) apples and oranges: Used to say that two things are fundamentally different and therefore not suitable for a direct or fair comparison.
- Meaning: Comparing dissimilar items.
- Bengali explanation: দুটি সম্পূর্ণ ভিন্ন জিনিসের তুলনা করা (duṭi śômpurnô bhinnô jiniśēr tulonā kôra) (often implying it’s inappropriate).
- Pale in comparison: To seem less important, impressive, or skillful when compared to someone or something else.
- Meaning: Seems insignificant when compared.
- Bengali equivalent: তুলনায় ম্লান (tulônāẏ mlan), তুলনায় নগণ্য মনে হওয়া (tulônāẏ nôgôṇṇô mône hôoa).
- Favorable comparison: A comparison that shows someone or something in a good light relative to another.
- Meaning: A comparison that is advantageous or positive.
- Bengali explanation: অনুকূল তুলনা (ônukul tulonā), এমন তুলনা যা ভালো দিক তুলে ধরে (æmôn tulonā ja bhalō dik tulē dhôre).
- Doesn’t compare / Cannot compare: Used to say that something is significantly inferior to something else.
- Meaning: Is much worse than.
- Bengali explanation: তুলনাই চলে না (tulônā’i chôle na), তুলনায় অনেক নিকৃষ্ট (tulônāẏ ônek nikr̥ṣṭô).
These phrases enrich the vocabulary around comparison, showing how the basic concept extends into idiomatic expressions. Understanding their Compare meaning in Bengali equivalents or explanations is vital for nuanced communication.
Conclusion
The English word “compare” is a cornerstone of analytical thought and communication, signifying the act of examining entities for similarities and differences. As we have explored, the primary Compare meaning in Bengali is captured by the versatile phrase তুলনা করা (tulona kora). However, the richness of the Bengali language offers alternative terms like মিল করা (mil kora) for matching, যাচাই করা (jachai kora) for verification, and উপমা দেওয়া (upoma dewa) for figurative likening, each adding a layer of specific meaning based on context.
Understanding the grammatical structure, including its verb forms, related nouns and adjectives like comparison
(তুলনা), comparable
(তুলনীয়), and comparative
(তুলনামূলক), and the subtle distinction between “compare to” and “compare with,” further refines its usage. Recognizing its wide range of applications—from everyday decision-making and analysis to figurative language and understanding related idioms like “compare notes” or “apples and oranges”—highlights the concept’s pervasiveness.