更 gèng: Even More

更 gèng means “even more” or just “more.” Put it right before an adjective or verb to push the degree up a level.

一 The Basic Pattern

Subject + 更 + Adjective / Verb

更 gèng goes right before the adjective or verb. It compares with something already mentioned or understood.

我wǒ更gèng想xiǎng吃chī日本菜Rìběn cài

I’d rather have Japanese food.

Literally: “I want Japanese food more.”

我wǒ更gèng不bù懂dǒng你nǐ在zài说shuō什么shénme了le

Now I understand what you’re saying even less.

这zhè个ge方法fāngfǎ更gèng好hǎo

This method is even better.

我wǒ想xiǎng找zhǎo一yí个ge更gèng有yǒu经验jīngyàn的de老师lǎoshī

I want to find a more experienced teacher.

更 gèng + adjective can also go before a noun, with 的 de.

二 With 比: Even More Than

A + 比 + B + 更 + Adjective

Add 更 gèng to a 比 bǐ sentence to say A is even more [adjective] than B.

他tā比bǐ我wǒ更gèng高gāo

He’s even taller than me.

今天jīntiān比bǐ昨天zuótiān更gèng冷lěng

Today is even colder than yesterday.

英文Yīngwén比bǐ中文Zhōngwén更gèng难nán

English is even harder than Chinese. 😉

这zhè两liǎng家jiā咖啡店kāfēidiàn，哪nǎ家jiā更gèng好喝hǎohē？

Of these two cafés, which one has better coffee?

What does 更 add?他比我高 says “he’s taller than me.” 他比我更高 says “he’s even taller than me,” which hints that I’m already pretty tall too! With 更 gèng, B usually has the quality as well.

三 Verb + 得 + 更

Subject + Verb + 得 + 更 + Adjective

To say someone does something even better, faster, clearer, put 更 gèng after 得 de. With 變得 biànde变得 biànde (“become”), it shows something has changed even more.

你的nǐde中文Zhōngwén说shuō得de更gèng好hǎo了le

Your Chinese has gotten even better.

最近zuìjìn的de物价wùjià变得biànde更gèng贵guì了le

Prices have gone up even more recently.

你nǐ可以kěyǐ解释jiěshì得de更gèng清楚qīngchu一点yìdiǎn吗ma？

Can you explain it a bit more clearly?

压力yālì会huì让ràng我wǒ变得biànde更gèng难nán入睡rùshuì

Stress makes it even harder for me to fall asleep.

四 Common Mistakes

❌ 他tā比bǐ我wǒ很hěn高gāo

✅ 他tā比bǐ我wǒ更gèng高gāo

You can’t use 很 hěn in a 比 bǐ sentence, but 更 gèng is fine.

❌ 他tā更gèng比bǐ我wǒ高gāo

✅ 他tā比bǐ我wǒ更gèng高gāo

更 gèng goes right before the adjective, not before 比 bǐ.

❌ 你的nǐde中文Zhōngwén說shuō说shuō更gèng好hǎo了le

✅ 你的nǐde中文Zhōngwén說shuō说shuō得de更gèng好hǎo了le

To describe how someone does something, you need 得 de between the verb and 更 gèng.

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 one is even cheaper.”