Expressing "even more" with "geng"

To express "even more," (as in "even more expensive," "even more ridiculous," "even more badass"), you can use 更 (gèng). 更 (gèng) generally comes before adjectives.

Basic Usage

Structure

The pattern in Chinese is simple:

更 + adj.

Note that this pattern is not simply a way of adding "-er" to an adjective or a substitute for 比 (bǐ) comparisons. In each case, you're adding "even more" to an existing considerable amount, as in, "I'm already rich, but I want to be even richer."

Examples

• 这 两个 银行 哪 个 更 近 ？ Zhè liǎng ge yínháng nǎ ge gèng jìn? There two banks,which one is closer?
• 我 想 找 一 个 更 有钱 的 男朋友。 It is implied that my boyfriend now is already rich, but I want to find an even richer boyfriend.Wǒ xiǎng zhǎo yīgè gèng yǒuqián de nánpéngyou.I want to find a richer boyfriend.
• 我 喜欢 在 网上 买书，因为 更 便宜。 Wǒ xǐhuan zài wǎngshàng mǎi shū, yīnwéi gèng piányi.I like buying books online because it's cheaper.
• 不要 太 高兴，我们 还 有 更 多 的 工作 要 做。 It is implied that a lot of work has already been done but there is still even more work left.Bùyào tài gāoxìng, wǒmen hái yǒu gèng duō de gōngzuò.Don't get too excited; we still have more work to do.
• 结婚 以后， 她 变 得 更 漂亮 了。Jiéhūn yǐhòu, tābiàn de gèngpiàoliang le.She's becoming more beautiful after she got married.

Structure with 比

While 更 (gèng) is not a substitute for 比 (bǐ) (the classic comparison word), the two can be used together.

Structure

A 比 B + 更 + adj.

This expresses that "A is even more Adj. than B."

Examples

• 今天 比 昨天 更 热。 Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān gèng rè.Today is even hotter than yesterday.
• 这里 比 那里 更 吵。 Zhèlǐ bǐ nàlǐ gèng chǎo.It's even noisier here than there.
• 汉语 语法 比 声调 更 难。Hànyǔ yǔfǎ bǐ shēngdiào gèng nán. Chinese grammar is more difficult than tones.
• 他 现在 的 女朋友 比 以前 的 更 漂亮。 Tā xiànzài de nǚpéngyou bǐ yǐqián de gèng piàoliang.His current girlfriend is more beautiful than his previous girlfriend.
• 中国 的 高铁 比 飞机 更 方便。 Zhōngguó de gāotiě bǐ fēijī gèng fāngbiàn.Chinese high-speed rail is more convenient than airplanes.

See also

• Expressing "More and More" with "yue… yue…"
• The "zui" superlative
• Basic comparisons with "bi"

Sources and further reading

Books

• 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (p. 231) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (p. 15) →buy
• Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (p. 54) →buy

Dictionaries

• 现代汉语词典（第5版） (p. 468) →buy