Expressing "even more" with "geng"

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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 近 ? Zhè liǎng gè yínháng nǎge gèng jìn? Between these two banks, which one is closer?
  • 我 想 找 一 个 帅 的 男朋友。 It is implied that my boyfriend now is already handsome, but I want to find an even more handsome boyfriend.Wǒ xiǎng zhǎo yī gè gèng shuài de nánpéngyou.I want to find a more handsome boyfriend.
  • 我 喜欢 在 网上 买书,因为 便宜。 Wǒ xǐhuan zài wǎngshàng mǎi shū, yīnwèi gèng piányi.I like buying books online because it's cheaper.
  • 不要 太 高兴,我们 还 有 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 yào zuò.Don't get too excited. We still have more work to do.
  • 结婚 以后, 她 变 得 漂亮 了。Jiéhūn yǐhòu, tā biàn de gèng piàoliang le.She's become more beautiful after she got married.

Structure with 比 (bǐ)

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

  • 北京 的 房子 上海 贵。Běijīng de fángzi Shànghǎi gèng guì.The houses in Beijing are even more expensive than those in Shanghai.
  • 春节 中秋节 热闹。 Chūnjié Zhōngqiūjié gèng rènao.Spring Festival is even more boisterous than Mid-autumn Festival.
  • 汉字 声调 难。Hànzì shēngdiào gèng nán.Chinese characters are even more difficult than tones.
  • 他 现在 的 女朋友 以前 的 漂亮。 Tā xiànzài de nǚpéngyou yǐqián de gèng piàoliang.His current girlfriend is even more beautiful than his previous one.
  • 中国 的 高铁 飞机 方便。 Zhōngguó de gāotiě fēijī gèng fāngbiàn.China's high-speed trains are even more convenient than airplanes.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Dictionaries