Comparisons in Chinese 比 bǐ

Chinese Comparison Words – bǐ and bǐjiào

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比 bǐ

In Chinese grammar, 比 bǐ is used to express comparison between two things. It is followed by the second element of comparison and then the adjective or adverb.

A + 比 bǐ + B + Adj.

The adjective is to describe A

美国Měiguó比bǐ日本Rìběn大dà
The United States is bigger than Japan.

台湾Táiwān的de夏天xiàtiān比bǐ加拿大Jiānádà的de夏天xiàtiān热rè
The summer in Taiwan is hotter than the summer in Canada.

你nǐ做zuò的de菜cài比bǐ餐馆cānguǎn的de好吃hǎochī
You make better food than the restaurant.

说的shuōde比bǐ做的zuòde容易róngyì
Easier said than done.


This matter is more serious than I thought.

比較/比较 bǐjiào

比较 bǐjiào is used to indicate a relatively higher degree of a quality or action compared to something else. It is often used before adjectives or adverbs to express “more” or “rather.

A + 比較/比较 bǐjiào + Adj.

When using 比较 bǐjiào, both the speaker and the listener should have a clear understanding of what is being compared.

美国Měiguó比较bǐjiào大dà
The United States is bigger.


The summer in Taiwan is hotter.

我wǒ觉得juéde中文zhōngwén比较bǐjiào简单jiǎndān
I think Chinese is relatively simple.

那nà家jiā咖啡店kāfēidiàn的de咖啡kāfēi比较bǐjiào好喝hǎohē
The coffee at that café is relatively tasty.

她tā最近zuìjìn比较bǐjiào忙máng
She has been relatively busy recently.

Common Mistakes

Adverbs for degree are not necessary

我wǒ比bǐ他tā很hěn高gāo X
I’m taller than him.

中文zhōngwén比bǐ英文yìngwén非常fēicháng难nán X
Chinese is more difficult than English.

Do not use 比 bǐ to express “the same”

我wǒ比bǐ他tā一样yíyàng高gāo X
I’m as tall as he is.

我wǒ跟gēn他tā一样yíyàng高gāo O
I’m as tall as he is.

Negation

A + Neg + 比 bǐ + B + Adj.

Negative words need to be placed before the comparative 比 bǐ, not before the adjective.

老师lǎoshī的de英文yìngwén没méi比bǐ我wǒ好hǎo
Master’s English is not better than mine.

今年jīnnián夏天xiàtiān不bù比bǐ去年qùnián热rè
This summer is not hotter than last year.

我的wǒde心脏xīnzāng不比bùbǐ蟑螂zhāngláng大dà， 所以suǒyǐ不要búyào吓xià我wǒ
My heart is not bigger than a cockroach, so please don’t scare me.

我wǒ比bǐ他tā不bù高gāo X
I am not taller than him.

我wǒ不bù比bǐ他tā高gāo O
I am not taller than him.

A + 沒有/没有 méiyǒu + B + Adj.

In this structure, A is less “adjective” than B

他tā没有méiyǒu他tā哥哥gēge高gāo
He is not as tall as his brother.

你的nǐde新xīn工作gōngzuò没有méiyǒu旧jiù工作gōngzuò好hǎo
Your new job is not as good as your old one.

你的nǐde男朋友nánpéngyou没有méiyǒu我的wǒde男朋友nánpéngyou帅shuài
Your boyfriend is not as handsome as my boyfriend.


You’re not as tired as I am, so stop complaining!

Basic Comparisons

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