Advanced Comparisons 2 - OneDotDot Chinese

Table of Contents

Grammar Point:
As you may already know, comparisons in Chinese are typically expressed using 比 bǐ. However, in this article, we’ll explore how to express preferences in Chinese—similar to saying “would rather… than…” in English. Additionally, we’ll introduce three more formal ways to construct comparison sentences in Chinese.

Structure – Showing Preference

與与其 + Option A，(S) + 不如 + Option B

This structure is used in Chinese to compare two options and express that one option is better or more preferable than the other. It translates roughly to “Rather than… it’s better to…” in English. You can also add 還还 hái, 倒 dào, 真 zhēn before the 不如 bùrú.

與其yǔqí去qù爬山páshān，還hái不如bùrú在zài家jiā看kàn電視diànshì与其yǔqí去qù爬山páshān，还hái不如bùrú在zài家jiā看kàn电视diànshì
It is better to watch TV at home rather than go hiking.

與其yǔqí在zài這裡zhèlǐ浪費làngfèi時間shíjiān，我們wǒmen不如bùrú認真rènzhēn想想xiǎngxiǎng有yǒu什麼shénme是shì我們wǒmen能néng做zuò的de与其yǔqí在zài这里zhèlǐ浪费làngfèi时间shíjiān，我们wǒmen不如bùrú认真rènzhēn想想xiǎngxiǎng有yǒu什么shénme是shì我们wǒmen能néng做zuò的de
Let’s think about what we can do rather than waste time here.

與其yǔqí生氣shēngqì，不如bùrú想xiǎng辦法bànfǎ解決jiějué問題wèntí与其yǔqí生气shēngqì，不如bùrú想xiǎng办法bànfǎ解决jiějué问题wèntí
Instead of getting angry, it’s better to find a solution.

與其yǔqí等děng著zhe別人biérén來lái幫忙bāngmáng，我們wǒmen不如bùrú自己zìjǐ試shì著zhe做zuò与其yǔqí等děng着zhe别人biérén来lái帮忙bāngmáng，我们wǒmen不如bùrú自己zìjǐ试shì着zhe做zuò
Instead of waiting for others to help, we’d better try doing it ourselves.

Common Use Cases:
✓ Making comparisons between two actions, often in terms of practicality or logic.
✓ Giving advice or suggesting a better approach to a problem.
✓ Expressing that one action is more favorable than the other without necessarily indicating personal preference.

與与其 + Option A，寧宁可 + Option B

The grammar structure 與与其 yǔqí… 寧可 níngkě宁可 nìngkě… is used in Chinese to express a preference between two options, often in situations where both options may not be ideal, but one is still preferable. It translates roughly to “rather than… I would prefer…”or “instead of… I would rather…” in English.

Both 寧可 níngkě宁可 nìngkě and 寧願 níngyuàn宁愿 nìngyuàn share the same meaning of “would rather,” but 寧願 níngyuàn宁愿 nìngyuàn is slightly more commonly used in spoken language.

與其yǔqí在zài這裡zhèlǐ修補xiūbǔ半天bàntiān的de衣服yīfú，我wǒ寧可nìngkě去qù商場shāngchǎng買mǎi一yí件jiàn新xīn的de与其yǔqí在zài这里zhèlǐ修补xiūbǔ半天bàntiān的de衣服yīfu，我wǒ宁可nìngkě去qù商场shāngchǎng买mǎi一yí件jiàn新xīn的de
Instead of repairing the clothes here for half a day, I would rather go to the mall and buy a new one.

與其yǔqí跟gēn他tā同一tóngyì組zǔ，我wǒ寧願níngyuàn自已zìyǐ一個人yígerén做zuò這zhè份fèn報告bàogào与其yǔqí跟gēn他tā同一tóngyì组zǔ，我wǒ宁愿nìngyuàn自已zìyǐ一个人yígerén做zuò这zhè份fèn报告bàogào
I would rather do this report by myself rather than in the same group with him.

與其yǔqí跟gēn他tā結婚jiéhūn，我wǒ寧願níngyuàn單身dānshēn一輩子yíbèizi与其yǔqí跟gēn他tā结婚jiéhūn，我wǒ宁愿nìngyuàn单身dānshēn一辈子yíbèizi
I prefer to be single for the rest of my life rather than marry him.

與其yǔqí吃chī這些zhèxiē不bú健康jiànkāng的de零食língshí，寧可nìngkě餓è著zhe与其yǔqí吃chī这些zhèxiē不bú健康jiànkāng的de零食língshí，宁可nìngkě饿è着zhe
Instead of eating these unhealthy snacks, I’d rather go hungry.

Common Use Cases:
✓ Making decisions where neither option is ideal but one is slightly better.
✓ Expressing personal preferences in a somewhat negative or reluctant context.

與其說与其说 + Statement A，不如說说 + Statement B

The structure 與其說与其说 yǔqíshuō A，不如說说 bùrúshuō B is a way to compare two statements or interpretations in Chinese, suggesting that B is a more accurate or appropriate explanation than A. It can be translated as “Rather than saying A, it’s more accurate to say B.”

與其yǔqí說shuō他tā是shì在zài幫bāng你nǐ，不如bùrú說shuō他tā是shì在zài佔zhàn你nǐ便宜piányí与其yǔqí说shuō他tā是shì在zài帮bāng你nǐ，不如bùrú说shuō他tā是shì在zài占zhàn你nǐ便宜piányi
Instead of saying that he is helping you, it is better to say that he is taking advantage of you.

與其yǔqí說shuō他tā是shì我wǒ爸爸bàba，不如bùrú說shuō他tā是shì我wǒ的de人生rénshēng老師lǎoshī与其yǔqí说shuō他tā是shì我wǒ爸爸bàba，不如bùrú说shuō他tā是shì我wǒ的de人生rénshēng老师lǎoshī
I’d rather say that he’s my life couch than my father.

與其yǔqí說shuō是shì運氣yùnqì好hǎo，不如bùrú說shuō是shì他tā一直yìzhí努力nǔlì的de結果jiéguǒ与其yǔqí说shuō是shì运气yùnqì好hǎo，不如bùrú说shuō是shì他tā一直yìzhí努力nǔlì的de结果jiéguǒ
Rather than saying it’s good luck, it’s more accurate to say it’s the result of his consistent hard work.

與其yǔqí說shuō他tā失敗shībài了le，不如bùrú說shuō他tā還沒háiméi找zhǎo到dào正確zhèngquè的de方法fāngfǎ与其yǔqí说shuō他tā失败shībài了le，不如bùrú说shuō他tā还没háiméi找zhǎo到dào正确zhèngquè的de方法fāngfǎ
Rather than saying he failed, it’s better to say he hasn’t found the right method yet.

Common Use Cases:
✓ Used to correct misconceptions or inaccurate interpretations.
✓ Often appears in formal or analytical contexts, such as essays, debates, or reflective discussions.
✓ Helps to emphasize the speaker’s viewpoint by presenting a more refined or logical alternative.

3 Structures for Comparison

比起 A (來来)，Opinion about B
B 比起 A (來来) + Opinion

This structure in Chinese is used to compare two things, indicating a preference, focus, or evaluation based on one being more notable than the other. It is often translated as “compared to …” or “when compared with …” in English.

比起bǐqǐ其他qítā人rén來lái，我wǒ的de想法xiǎngfǎ太tài簡單jiǎndān了le比起bǐqǐ其他qítā人rén来lái，我wǒ的de想法xiǎngfǎ太tài简单jiǎndān了le
Compared to others, my thoughts are too simple.

比起bǐqǐ昨天zuótiān，今天jīntiān的de天氣tiānqì好hǎo多duō了le比起bǐqǐ昨天zuótiān，今天jīntiān的de天气tiānqì好hǎo多duō了le
Compared to yesterday, today’s weather is much better.

比起bǐqǐ咖啡kāfēi來lái，我wǒ更gèng喜歡xǐhuān喝hē茶chá比起bǐqǐ咖啡kāfēi来lái，我wǒ更gèng喜欢xǐhuan喝hē茶chá
Compared to coffee, I prefer drinking tea.

這zhè件jiàn衣服yīfú比起bǐqǐ那nà件jiàn來lái，顏色yánsè更gèng鮮艷xiānyàn这zhè件jiàn衣服yīfu比起bǐqǐ那nà件jiàn来lái，颜色yánsè更gèng鲜艷xiānyàn
This piece of clothing, compared to that one, has a brighter color.

Common Use Cases:
✓ Often used in conversational Chinese to make comparisons sound more fluid and contextual.
✓ To highlight a specific aspect that stands out in the comparison.

A + Monosyllable Adj + 於于 + B

This structure in Chinese is a formal way to make comparisons, typically seen in written language or more formal contexts. It is equivalent to saying “A is more [adjective] than B” in English, where the adjective describes the nature of the comparison.

他tā的de收入shōurù高gāo於yú我wǒ他tā的de收入shōurù高gāo于yú我wǒ
His income is higher than mine.

現在xiànzài的de溫度wēndù低dī於yú昨天zuótiān现在xiànzài的de温度wēndù低dī于yú昨天zuótiān
The temperature now is lower than yesterday

新xīn手機shǒujī的de性能xìngnéng優yōu於yú舊jiù手機shǒujī新xīn手机shǒujī的de性能xìngnéng优yōu于yú旧jiù手机shǒujī
The new phone’s performance is better than the old one.

你nǐ一定yídìng要yào小心xiǎoxīn，安全ānquán重zhòng於yú一切yíqiè你nǐ一定yídìng要yào小心xiǎoxīn，安全ānquán重zhòng于yú一切yíqiè
You must be careful. Safety is more important than anything else.

Common Use Cases:
✓ This structure is ideal for concise, elegant expressions often found in reports, essays, or news.

S + 比 + N₁ + 還还 + N₁

This structure is a vivid and often exaggerated way to make comparisons in Chinese. It’s used to emphasize that the subject surpasses even the standard or stereotype represented by N₁ in some extreme or exaggerated aspect.

你nǐ簡直jiǎnzhí比bǐ強盜qiángdào還hái強盜qiángdào你nǐ简直jiǎnzhí比bǐ强盗qiángdào还hái强盗qiángdào
You are really like a robber more than a real robber.

他tā雖然suīrán是shì男人nánrén，但dàn他tā的de動作dòngzuò比bǐ女人nǚrén還hái女人nǚrén他tā虽然suīrán是shì男人nánrén，但dàn他tā的de动作dòngzuò比bǐ女人nǚrén还hái女人nǚrén
Although he is a man, his behavior is like a woman more than a real woman.

這zhè孩子háizi比bǐ大人dàrén還hái大人dàrén这zhè孩子háizi比bǐ大人dàrén还hái大人dàrén
This kid is more of an adult than an adult!

這zhè個ge演員yǎnyuán的de演技yǎnjì比bǐ真實zhēnshí還hái真實zhēnshí这zhè个ge演员yǎnyuán的de演技yǎnjì比bǐ真实zhēnshí还hái真实zhēnshí
This actor’s performance is more real than reality!

Common Use Cases:
✓ Often carries a tone of exaggeration, humor, sarcasm, or criticism.
✓ Suitable for informal speech, storytelling, or creative expressions.