comparable
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comparable
Of such a nature that it can meaningfully be compared with something else because similarities or shared features exist.
Die Situation heute ist kaum mit der von vor zehn Jahren vergleichbar.
The situation today is hardly comparable with the one from ten years ago.
The word is made up of the verb stem 'vergleich-' (from 'vergleichen', to compare) and the ending '-bar'. The ending '-bar' attached to a verb means that something can be done — here, that something can be compared.
Viele Probleme in der IT sind lösbar.
Many problems in IT are solvable.
When indicating what something is being compared with, you always use the preposition 'mit' followed by the dative. The structure is: 'Etwas ist vergleichbar mit etwas (Dativ)' (Something is comparable with something in the dative).
Ein E-Book-Reader ist in seiner Funktion nicht mit einem Tablet vergleichbar.
In terms of its function, an e-book reader is not comparable with a tablet.
Interestingly, 'vergleichbar' (comparable) is very often used in a negative or limiting form to emphasize differences. Watch for formulations such as 'nicht vergleichbar' (not comparable), 'kaum vergleichbar' (hardly comparable), or 'schwer vergleichbar' (difficult to compare).
Die Arbeitsbedingungen von damals sind mit heute kaum vergleichbar.
The working conditions back then are hardly comparable with today's.
similar
“Ähnlich” directly describes two things as matching in certain characteristics. “Vergleichbar” places more emphasis on the possibility of making a meaningful comparison, so the things do not have to be similar in every respect. Use “ähnlich” for a specific similarity and “vergleichbar” when referring to the basis for a comparison.
Die beiden Wohnungen sind trotz ihrer verschiedenen Lage gut vergleichbar.
Despite their different locations, the two apartments are easy to compare.
Die beiden Wohnungen sind ähnlich groß und haben beide einen Balkon.
The two apartments are similar in size, and both have a balcony.
