compare whit与compare to

compare to(比作)
Man's life is often compared to a candle.
人生常被喻为蜡烛。
The poet compares his lover to a rose in his poems.
诗人在他诗歌中把他的情人比作玫瑰花。

compare whit(与…比较；比得上 )
Walking can't compare with flying.
走路比不上飞行。
Living in a town can't compare with living in the country in many respects.
在许多方面城市生活比不上在乡村生活。

前者是与……比较
后者是把……比作……
compare a with b
把a和b做比较
compare a to b
把a比作b

compare with/to都有“与…相比较”的意思，此时可以互用。
e.g. Compared with/to me, he is a good student.
与我相比，他是个好学生。
此处to/with都行

但是compare与to有另一用法，compare A to B,此时的意思是“认为A与B有共同之处，把A比作B”
e.g. He compared life to a stage.
他把生活比作一个舞台。
此处就不可以用with.

比较白衣与比较.意思不同