Comparisons 比 bǐ - OneDotDot Chinese

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Grammar Point:
In Chinese, comparisons are expressed using the character 比 bǐ. In this article, we will discuss other words that can be used in conjunction with 比 bǐ, such as 那麼那么 nàme, 更 gèng, and 不如 bùrú.

Structure

A + 比 + B + Adj. + Quantitative Complement

A Quantitative Complement in Chinese refers to a number combined with a measure word to indicate quantity, such as ‘2-year-old’, ’10 km’, ‘5 cm’, and so on.

我wǒ弟弟dìdi比bǐ我wǒ小xiǎo三sān歲suì我wǒ弟弟dìdi比bǐ我wǒ小xiǎo三sān岁suì
My brother is three years younger than me.

你的nǐde分數fēnshù比bǐ我的wǒde高gāo七qī分fēn你的nǐde分数fēnshù比bǐ我的wǒde高gāo七qī分fēn
Your score is 7 points higher than mine.

A + 比 + B + Adj. + Description

This is like saying that one thing is much more adjective than another in English.
The following words can be used in Chinese to express this comparison: 多了duōle, 一點一点 yìdiǎn, 一些 yìxiē, 得多 deduō, 很多 hěnduō

昨天zuótiān比bǐ今天jīntiān冷lěng多了duōle昨天zuótiān比bǐ今天jīntiān冷lěng多了duōle
Yesterday was much colder than today.

我wǒ妹妹mèimei比bǐ我wǒ漂亮piāoliàng一點yìdiǎn，就jiù一點yìdiǎn我wǒ妹妹mèimei比bǐ我wǒ漂亮piāoliang一点yìdiǎn，就jiù一点yìdiǎn
My sister is a little prettier than me. Only a little bit.

我wǒ現在xiànzài的de工作gōngzuò比bǐ以前yǐqián的de多duō一些yìxiē我wǒ现在xiànzài的de工作gōngzuò比bǐ以前yǐqián的de多duō一些yìxiē
My current job is a little more than the previous one.

坐zuòUber 比bǐ自己zìjǐ開車kāichē方便fāngbiàn很多hěnduō坐zuòUber 比bǐ自己zìjǐ开车kāichē方便fāngbiàn很多hěnduō
Taking an Uber is much more convenient than driving yourself.

A + 比 + B + 更 or 還/还 + Adj.

Both 更 gèng and 還还 hái emphasize the concept of ‘more’. This typically implies that the speaker’s initial idea was incorrect and needs to be corrected, or that the speaker wants to emphasize the degree of difference. These words can be translated as ‘even’ in English.

A: 你nǐ哥哥gēge比bǐ你nǐ高gāo嗎ma？ A: 你nǐ哥哥gēge比bǐ你nǐ高gāo吗ma？
Is your brother taller than you?
B: 不是búshì，我wǒ比bǐ我wǒ哥哥gēge更gèng高gāoB: 不是búshì，我wǒ比bǐ我wǒ哥哥gēge更gèng高gāo
No, I’m even taller than my brother.

A: 今天jīntiān很hěn熱rèA: 今天jīntiān很hěn热rè
The weather is hot today.
B: 昨天zuótiān比bǐ今天jīntiān更gèng熱rèB: 昨天zuótiān比bǐ今天jīntiān更gèng热rè
No, it was even hotter yesterday.

A: 你nǐ是不是shìbúshì瘦shòu了leA: 你nǐ是不是shìbúshì瘦shòu了le
Have you lost weight?
B: 是的shìde，我wǒ比bǐ以前yǐqián還hái瘦shòuB: 是的shìde，我wǒ比bǐ以前yǐqián还hái瘦shòu
Yes, I am even thinner than before.

你的nǐde食量shíliàng比bǐ小鳥xiǎoniǎo還hái小xiǎo你的nǐde食量shíliàng比bǐ小鸟xiǎoniǎo还hái小xiǎo
You eat less than a small bird.

FYI
小鳥胃小鸟胃 xiǎoniǎo wèi (bird stomach) is a fun Chinese idiom that describes someone with a small appetite, just like a bird. It means that they can only eat a little bit at a time, and it’s often used in a playful way to tease someone who doesn’t eat much.

你nǐ怎麼zěnme比bǐ豬zhū還hái懶lǎn？你nǐ怎么zěnme比bǐ猪zhū还hái懒lǎn？
How come you are lazier than a pig?

A + 不如 + B

不如 bùrú is used to convey that A is “not as good as” B. And it is possible to omit the adjective or verb. When using this sentence structure, 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chī這zhè家jiā餐館cānguǎn不如bùrú回家huíjiā吃chī这zhè家jiā餐馆cānguǎn不如bùrú回家huíjiā
Eating at this restaurant isn’t as good as eating at home.

你nǐ妹妹mèimei的de中文zhōngwén不如bùrú你的nǐde你nǐ妹妹mèimei的de中文zhōngwén不如bùrú你的nǐde
Your sister’s Chinese is not as good as yours.

男朋友nánpéngyǒu總是zǒngshì不如bùrú朋友péngyǒu男朋友nánpéngyou总是zǒngshì不如bùrú朋友péngyou
Boyfriends are always not as good as friends.

搭dā公車gōngchē不如bùrú地鐵dìtiě搭dā公车gōngchē不如bùrú地铁dìtiě ❌
Taking the bus isn’t as good as the subway.
(A and B not match)

A + 有 + B + (這麼/这么, 那麼/那么) + Adj.

The good news is that in Chinese, both 那麼那么 nàme and 這麼这么 zhème serve the same function. Therefore, there is no need to distinguish between them.

你的nǐde手機shǒujī有yǒu我的wǒde(手機)shǒujī那麼nàme貴guì嗎ma？你的nǐde手机shǒujī有yǒu我的wǒde(手机)shǒujī那么nàme贵guì吗ma？
Is your phone as expensive as mine?

他家tājiā的de廁所cèsuǒ有yǒu我家wǒjiā的de房間fángjiān這麼zhème大dà！他家tājiā的de厕所cèsuǒ有yǒu我家wǒjiā的de房间fángjiān这么zhème大dà！
His toilet is as big as my room.

你們nǐmen國家guójiā的de蟑螂zhāngláng一定yídìng沒有méiyǒu台灣Táiwān的de那麼nàme大dà你们nǐmen国家guójiā的de蟑螂zhāngláng一定yídìng没有méiyǒu台湾Táiwān的de那么nàme大dà
The cockroaches in your country must not be as big as those in Taiwan.

FYI
Oh, boy! Let’s talk about Taiwan cockroaches! They’re like the celebrities of the cockroach world. Thanks to Taiwan’s picture-perfect weather and delicious food, these little darlings can grow up to a whopping 4.8 centimeters (1.8 inches) in length, leaving other cockroaches in the dust.

If that wasn’t enough to impress you, get this – Taiwan cockroaches are super friendly! Unlike those boring old cockroaches that run away from people, Taiwan cockroaches are the life of the party. They love to socialize and make new friends, so don’t be surprised if one comes running directly at you with open arms – er, legs.

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, these cockroaches also have a secret superpower: they can fly! That’s right, folks, these little winged wonders are taking the cockroach game to a whole new level.