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
美國比日本大美国比日本大
The United States is bigger than Japan.
台灣的夏天比加拿大的夏天熱台湾的夏天比加拿大的夏天热
The summer in Taiwan is hotter than the summer in Canada.
你做的菜比餐館的好吃你做的菜比餐馆的好吃
You make better food than the restaurant.
說的比做的容易说的比做的容易
Easier said than done.
這件事情比我想的嚴重这件事情比我想的严重
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.
美國比較大美国比较大
The United States is bigger.
台灣的夏天比較熱台湾的夏天比较热
The summer in Taiwan is hotter.
我覺得中文比較簡單我觉得中文比较简单
I think Chinese is relatively simple.
那家咖啡店的咖啡比較好喝那家咖啡店的咖啡比较好喝
The coffee at that café is relatively tasty.
她最近比較忙她最近比较忙
She has been relatively busy recently.
Common Mistakes
Adverbs for degree are not necessary
我比他很高我比他很高 X
I’m taller than him.
中文比英文非常難中文比英文非常难 X
Chinese is more difficult than English.
Do not use 比 bǐ to express “the same”
我比他一樣高我比他一样高 X
I’m as tall as he is.
我跟他一樣高我跟他一样高 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.
老師的英文沒比我好老师的英文没比我好
Master’s English is not better than mine.
今年夏天不比去年熱今年夏天不比去年热
This summer is not hotter than last year.
我的心臟不比蟑螂大,所以不要嚇我我的心脏不比蟑螂大,所以不要吓我
My heart is not bigger than a cockroach, so please don’t scare me.
我比他不高我比他不高 X
I am not taller than him.
我不比他高我不比他高 O
I am not taller than him.
A + 沒有/没有 méiyǒu + B + Adj.
In this structure, A is less “adjective” than B
他沒有他哥哥高他没有他哥哥高
He is not as tall as his brother.
你的新工作沒有舊工作好你的新工作没有旧工作好
Your new job is not as good as your old one.
你的男朋友沒有我的男朋友帥你的男朋友没有我的男朋友帅
Your boyfriend is not as handsome as my boyfriend.
你沒有我累,所以不要再抱怨了!你没有我累,所以不要再抱怨了!
You’re not as tired as I am, so stop complaining!
- Advanced Comparisons 1 跟…相比 (HSK 5)
Basic Comparisons