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

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

台灣Táiwān的de夏天xiàtiān比bǐ加拿大Jiānádà的de夏天xiàtiān熱rè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餐館cānguǎn的de好吃hǎochī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.

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

這zhè件jiàn事情shìqíng比bǐ我wǒ想xiǎng的de嚴重yánzhòng这zhè件jiàn事情shìqíng比bǐ我wǒ想xiǎng的de严重yánzhòng
This matter is more serious than I thought.

比較/比较 bǐjiào

比較较 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 比較较 bǐjiào, both the speaker and the listener should have a clear understanding of what is being compared.

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

台灣Táiwān的de夏天xiàtiān比較bǐjiào熱rè台湾Táiwān的de夏天xiàtiān比较bǐjiào热rè
The summer in Taiwan is hotter.

我wǒ覺得juéde中文zhōngwén比較bǐjiào簡單jiǎndān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比較bǐjiào好喝hǎohē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比較bǐjiào忙máng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難nán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一樣yíyàng高gāo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一樣yíyàng高gāo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.

老師lǎoshī的de英文yìngwén沒méi比bǐ我wǒ好hǎo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熱rè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心臟xīnzàng不比bùbǐ蟑螂zhāngláng大dà，所以suǒyǐ不要búyào嚇xià我wǒ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沒有méiyǒu他tā哥哥gēge高gāo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沒有méiyǒu舊jiù工作gōngzuò好hǎo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nánpéngyǒu沒有méiyǒu我的wǒde男朋友nánpéngyǒu帥shuài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.

你nǐ沒有méiyǒu我wǒ累lèi，所以suǒyǐ不要búyào再zài抱怨bàoyuàn了le！你nǐ没有méiyǒu我wǒ累lèi，所以suǒyǐ不要búyào再zài抱怨bàoyuàn了le！
You’re not as tired as I am, so stop complaining!