比 bǐ + Verb + 得 de: Comparing How People Do Things
Want to say someone runs faster, sings better or eats more than someone else? Combine 比 bǐ with verb + 得 de + adjective. There are two word orders, and both are very common.
一 Order 1: 比 Before the Verb
A + 比 + B + Verb + 得 + Adjective
Put 比 bǐ right after A. Then come the verb, 得 de, and the adjective.
我比我弟弟走得慢
I walk slower than my younger brother.
這这種种狗比那種种狗吃得多
This kind of dog eats more than that kind.
你的字比我妹妹寫写得難看难看
Your handwriting is worse than my sister’s. 😬
她比媽媽妈妈唱得好聽好听嗎吗？
Does she sing better than Mom?
二 Order 2: 比 After 得
A + (Verb + Object) + Verb + 得 + 比 + B + Adjective
Or put 比 bǐafter 得 de. If there’s an object, say the verb + object first, then repeat the verb.
爸爸做飯做饭做得比我好吃
Dad cooks better than I do.
我說说中文一定說说得比你快
I’m sure I speak Chinese faster than you.
我喝珍珠奶茶喝得比你多嗎吗？
Do I drink more bubble tea than you? 🧋
ChatGPT唸念中文唸念得比你流利
ChatGPT reads Chinese more fluently than you. 🤖
Two orders, one meaningBoth orders mean the same thing. 我比他跑得快 and 我跑得比他快 are both correct.
三 Saying “Not More Than”: 不比
A + 不比 + B + Verb + 得 + Adjective / A + Verb + 得 + 不比 + B + Adjective
不比 bù bǐ means “not more… than.” It often pushes back on what someone else assumed.
今年不比去年賺赚得少
We didn’t earn any less this year than last year.
今天的雨下得不比昨天的大
Today’s rain isn’t any heavier than yesterday’s.
四 Common Mistakes
❌ 他比我跑得很快
✅ 他比我跑得快
No 很 hěn in a 比 bǐ sentence.
❌ 他跑比我得快
✅ 他跑得比我快
When 比 bǐ comes after the verb, it goes after 得 de too.
❌ 爸爸做飯做饭得比我好吃
✅ 爸爸做飯做饭做得比我好吃
With an object, repeat the verb before 得 de.
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
“He runs faster than me.”
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他比我跑得快
他跑得比我快 is also correct.
The 很 hěn tile is a trap.
“My sister sings better than me.”
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我姐姐比我唱得好聽好听
Putting 比 bǐ after 得 de is also correct.
A + 比 bǐ + B + verb + 得 de + adjective.
“You write Chinese characters more beautifully than me.”
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你寫写中文字寫写得比我漂亮漂亮
With an object: verb + object, then verb + 得 de + 比 bǐ + B + adjective.
“I get up earlier than my roommate.”
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我比我的室友起得早
Putting 比 bǐ after 得 de is also correct.
Either word order works.
“Cats sleep more than dogs.”
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貓猫比狗睡得多
Putting 比 bǐ after 得 de is also correct.
Lazy cats! 😺
“Does he play basketball better than you?”
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他打籃球篮球打得比你好嗎吗？
With an object, repeat the verb.
“This year I didn’t spend any more than last year.”
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今年我不比去年花得多
今年我花得不比去年多 is also correct.
不比 bù bǐ = “not more than.”
“My younger brother eats more than my dad.”
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我弟弟比我爸爸吃得多
Putting 比 bǐ after 得 de is also correct.
Growing boys! 🍚
“She speaks Chinese more fluently than I do.”
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她說说中文說说得比我流利
Verb + object, then verb + 得 de + 比 bǐ + B + adjective.
