相比
xiāngbǐ · HSK 3
comparison
⚖️ 相 (mutual) + 比 (compare) = mutually compare, i.e. comparison
相 means mutual/each-other; 比 is the verb to compare (two figures side by side). Together 相比 = to compare with one another. Often used as 与...相比 (compared with...).
比 — two 匕 (person) side by side
比 is a pictograph showing two people standing side by side, facing the same direction. From this image of paired figures came the core meaning 'to compare' or 'to be next to,' since comparing things naturally involves placing them alongside each other.