This lesson covers two HSK 4 comparison patterns: 不如 bùrú不如 bùrú for “not as good as,” and 跟 gēn跟 gēn … 相比 xiāngbǐ相比 xiāngbǐ for “compared with.”
1Structure
At HSK 4 you learn two more ways to compare. One says A “falls short of” B; the other opens a sentence with “compared with …” so you can state the difference afterwards.
A + 不如 bùrú不如 bùrú + B (+ Adj.)
不如 bùrú不如 bùrú means “A is not as good as B.” It is firmer and more evaluative than 沒有 méiyǒu没有 méiyǒu: it doesn’t just measure a gap, it says B is the better one. The adjective or verb at the end is optional — if you leave it out, the sentence simply means “A is not as good as B.”
When using this pattern, A and B need to match: if A is a noun, B should also be a noun; if A is a verb-object phrase, B should be too.
吃這家餐館不如回家。吃这家餐馆不如回家。
Eating at this restaurant isn’t as good as eating at home.
你妹妹的中文不如你的。你妹妹的中文不如你的。
Your sister’s Chinese is not as good as yours.
男朋友總是不如朋友。男朋友总是不如朋友。
Boyfriends are always not as good as friends.
With an adjective at the end, it names exactly what falls short:
這個手機不如那個好用。这个手机不如那个好用。
This phone isn’t as easy to use as that one.
這裡的交通不如以前方便。这里的交通不如以前方便。
The transportation here isn’t as convenient as it used to be.
他游得不如我快。他游得不如我快。
He doesn’t swim as fast as I do.
With actions, 不如 bùrú不如 bùrú goes after 得 de得 de.
哥哥的成績不如姐姐。哥哥的成绩不如姐姐。
My older brother’s grades aren’t as good as my older sister’s.
不如 bùrú不如 bùrú vs. 沒有 méiyǒu没有 méiyǒu
這家店沒有那家好吃 zhè jiā diàn méiyǒu nà jiā hǎochī这家店没有那家好吃 zhè jiā diàn méiyǒu nà jiā hǎochī simply reports a gap. 這家店不如那家好吃 zhè jiā diàn bùrú nà jiā hǎochī这家店不如那家好吃 zhè jiā diàn bùrú nà jiā hǎochī adds a verdict: that other place is the better choice.
不如 bùrú不如 bùrú usually goes with adjectives from the “good/more” end of a scale (好 hǎo好 hǎo, 高 gāo高 gāo, 快 kuài快 kuài, 方便 fāngbiàn方便 fāngbiàn). You can’t combine it with 比 bǐ比 bǐ: there’s no 比不如 bǐ bùrú比不如 bǐ bùrú.
Not to be confused
You may also see 不如 bùrú不如 bùrú followed by a verb, meaning “might as well …” (不如去吧 bùrú qù ba不如去吧 bùrú qù ba). That’s a different pattern and is not covered here.
跟 gēn跟 gēn + B + 相比 xiāngbǐ相比 xiāngbǐ, A + …
跟 gēn跟 gēn … 相比 xiāngbǐ相比 xiāngbǐ sets up “compared with B” at the start of the sentence. It is slightly more formal than other comparison patterns and is frequently used in writing, speeches and formal discussions. After the comma, you describe A and state the difference — and you don’t need 比 bǐ比 bǐ again, because 相比 xiāngbǐ相比 xiāngbǐ already carries the comparison.
跟上次考試相比，這次沒有那麼難。跟上次考试相比，这次没有那么难。
Compared with the last exam, this one is not so difficult.
跟他哥哥相比，她比較安靜。跟他哥哥相比，她比较安静。
Compared to her older brother, she’s quieter.
跟去年相比，今年的天氣熱多了。跟去年相比，今年的天气热多了。
Compared with last year, this year’s weather is much hotter.
跟台北相比，台南的生活節奏慢一點。跟台北相比，台南的生活节奏慢一点。
Compared with Taipei, life in Tainan has a slightly slower pace.
跟坐火車相比，坐高鐵貴得多。跟坐火车相比，坐高铁贵得多。
Compared with taking the train, taking the high-speed rail is much more expensive.
跟十年前相比，現在的生活方便多了。跟十年前相比，现在的生活方便多了。
Compared with ten years ago, life today is much more convenient.
A + 跟 gēn跟 gēn + B + 相比 xiāngbǐ相比 xiāngbǐ, …
You can also put A first. The two things being compared then sit together in front of 相比 xiāngbǐ相比 xiāngbǐ, and the comment follows the comma.
這家店跟對面那家相比，人少多了。这家店跟对面那家相比，人少多了。
Compared with the one across the street, this shop has far fewer people.
跟 gēn跟 gēn, 和 hé和 hé or 與 yǔ与 yǔ?
和 hé和 hé can replace 跟 gēn跟 gēn without changing the meaning. 與 yǔ与 yǔ is the formal, written version, so you’ll mostly see it in news and reports.
2Common Mistakes
Both patterns already contain the comparison, so don’t add a second comparison word.
❌搭公車不如地鐵。搭公交车不如地铁。
✅搭公車不如搭地鐵。搭公交车不如搭地铁。
A and B need to match. “Taking the bus” is a verb-object phrase, so B has to be one too: 搭地鐵 dā dìtiě搭地铁 dā dìtiě, not just 地鐵 dìtiě地铁 dìtiě.
❌這個手機比不如那個好用。这个手机比不如那个好用。
✅這個手機不如那個好用。这个手机不如那个好用。
不如 bùrú不如 bùrú is a comparison on its own. Adding 比 bǐ比 bǐ in front of it doubles up the meaning and isn’t allowed.
❌我不如他很高。我不如他很高。
✅我不如他高。我不如他高。
As with all comparisons, don’t put 很 hěn很 hěn in front of the adjective.
❌跟去年，今年的生意好多了。跟去年，今年的生意好多了。
✅跟去年相比，今年的生意好多了。跟去年相比，今年的生意好多了。
Don’t leave out 相比 xiāngbǐ相比 xiāngbǐ. It is what turns 跟去年 gēn qùnián跟去年 gēn qùnián into “compared with last year.”
❌跟大城市相比，小城市比更安靜。跟大城市相比，小城市比更安静。
✅跟大城市相比，小城市更安靜。跟大城市相比，小城市更安静。
After 相比 xiāngbǐ相比 xiāngbǐ, the main clause doesn’t need 比 bǐ比 bǐ — 相比 xiāngbǐ相比 xiāngbǐ has already set up the comparison.
3Practice
Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.
01In cooking, I’m not as good as my mom. (not as good, no adjective)
做菜我不如我媽媽。做菜我不如我妈妈。
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02This road isn’t as wide as that one. (not as … as, with adjective)
這條路不如那條寬。这条路不如那条宽。
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03My younger brother doesn’t run as fast as I do. (not as … as, action)
弟弟跑得不如我快。弟弟跑得不如我快。
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04Taking a taxi isn’t as convenient as taking the MRT. (comparing two activities)
坐計程車不如坐捷運方便。坐出租车不如坐地铁方便。
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05Compared with last month, I’m much busier this month. (“compared with” first)
跟上個月相比，這個月我忙多了。跟上个月相比，这个月我忙多了。
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06Compared with my hometown, Taipei has even more people. (“compared with” first)
跟我的家鄉相比，台北的人更多。跟我的家乡相比，台北的人更多。
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07My room is much smaller than yours. (A and B together)
我的房間跟你的相比，小多了。我的房间跟你的相比，小多了。
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08This year’s exam isn’t as easy as last year’s. (not as … as, with adjective)
今年的考試不如去年簡單。今年的考试不如去年简单。
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