Two little words help you compare things in Chinese. 比 bǐ (bǐ) means “more than”, and you use it when you name both things. 比較比较bǐjiào (“rather, fairly”) is for when you don’t name the second thing. Let’s see how each one works.
一 比 bǐ: “more than”
A + 比 + B + Adj.
Put 比 bǐ between the two things you compare. The adjective goes last, and it describes A (the first thing).
美國美国比日本大
The United States is bigger than Japan.
台灣台湾的夏天比加拿大的夏天熱热
The summer in Taiwan is hotter than the summer in Canada.
你做的菜比餐廳餐馆的好吃
You make better food than the restaurant.
說的说的比做的容易
Easier said than done.
這这件事情比我想的嚴重严重
This matter is more serious than I thought.
二比較比较bǐjiào: “rather, fairly”
A + 比較比较 + Adj.
比較比较bǐjiào shows a higher degree than something else, but you don’t say what that something else is. It is like “more” or “rather” in English.
Since there is no B in the sentence, both you and the person you talk to must already know what is being compared. In the first example below, everyone knows we are comparing the United States with other countries.
美國美国比較比较大
The United States is bigger.
台灣台湾的夏天比較比较熱热
The summer in Taiwan is hotter.
我覺得觉得中文比較比较簡單简单
I think Chinese is relatively simple.
那家咖啡店的咖啡比較比较好喝
The coffee at that café is relatively tasty.
她最近比較比较忙
She has been relatively busy recently.
三 Common Mistakes
❌ 我比他很高
✅ 我比他高
比 bǐ already means “more than”, so you don’t need a word for degree like 很 hěn (very). Just put the adjective at the end.
❌ 中文比英文非常難难
✅ 中文比英文難难
Same idea here: 非常 fēicháng (very) is not needed either. 比 bǐ already says “more”.
❌ 我比他一樣一样高
✅ 我跟他一樣一样高
比 bǐ is only for “more than”. To say two things are “the same”, use 跟 gēn and 一樣一样yíyàng instead.
四 Saying “Not”
A + 不 / 沒没 + 比 + B + Adj.
The negative word goes before 比 bǐ, not before the adjective.
老師老师的英文沒没比我好
The teacher’s English is not better than mine.
今年夏天不比去年熱热
This summer is not hotter than last year.
我的心臟心脏不比蟑螂大，所以不要嚇吓我
My heart is not bigger than a cockroach’s, so please don’t scare me.
❌ 我比他不高
✅ 我不比他高
Put the negative word before 比 bǐ, not before the adjective. So it is “not + 比 bǐ + B + adjective”.
A + 沒有没有 + B + Adj.
With 沒有没有méiyǒu, A has less of the quality than B. It works like “not as … as” in English.
他沒有没有他哥哥高
He is not as tall as his brother.
你的新工作沒有没有舊旧工作好
Your new job is not as good as your old one.
你的男朋友男朋友沒有没有我的男朋友男朋友帥帅
Your boyfriend is not as handsome as my boyfriend.
你沒有没有我累，所以不要再抱怨了！
You are not as tired as I am, so stop complaining!
五 Practice
Tap the words below in the right order to build the sentence, then check your answer. If it’s wrong, you can try again as many times as you like, or hit “Show answer” if you get stuck. Careful: some tiles are traps and are not needed!
Question 1 of 10
“This bag is cheaper than that bag.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
這这個个包包比那個个包包便宜便宜
比 bǐ works like “-er than” in English, so 便宜 piányí already means “cheaper”. The 很 hěn tile is a trap. You don’t need “very” here.
“Today is colder than yesterday.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
今天比昨天冷
比 bǐ sits between the two things you compare, and the adjective comes last. 非常 fēicháng (very) is a trap, just like 很 hěn in the last question.
“Cats are quieter than dogs.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
貓猫比狗安靜安静
The adjective describes the first thing (the cats). The second thing (the dogs) comes right after 比 bǐ.
“I think this restaurant is relatively cheap.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
我覺得觉得這这家餐廳餐馆比較比较便宜便宜
No second thing is named here, so use 比較比较bǐjiào (“fairly, relatively”) and not 比 bǐ. Don’t use both.
“My little brother has been relatively busy lately.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
我弟弟最近比較比较忙
The time word 最近 zuìjìn (lately) goes before 比較比较bǐjiào, right after the person.
“It is relatively cool today.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
今天天氣天气比較比较涼快凉快
比較比较bǐjiào + adjective says something is “fairly” that way. Everyone knows you are comparing with a normal day.
“This year’s exam is not harder than last year’s.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
今年的考試考试不比去年的難难
Put 不 bù right before 比 bǐ. Putting it in front of the adjective is a mistake.
“My phone is not as new as yours.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
我的手機手机沒有没有你的新
沒有没有méiyǒu means A is less “new” than B (“not as … as”). 你的 nǐde here stands for “your phone”.
“My older sister is as tall as I am.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
我姐姐跟我一樣一样高
To say two things are “the same”, use 跟 gēn and 一樣一样yíyàng. 比 bǐ is only for “more than”, so the 比 bǐ tile is a trap.
“Her Chinese is not as good as his.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
她的中文沒有没有他的好
沒有没有méiyǒu already does the job of 比 bǐ here, so you don’t need both.
