View source for Expressing "even more" with "geng" or "hai"

{{Grammar Box}} 

When used in a comparison, 更 (gèng) or 还 (hái) expresses an even higher degree of the adjective. 
For example, New York is America's biggest city with a population of more than 8 million. Shanghai is China's biggest city, with a population of more than 20 million. “上海比纽约人口更/还多” emphasizes that 
比如，美国最大的城市纽约，有八百多万人口。而中国最大的城市上海，有两千多万人口，“上海比纽约人口更/还多”强调纽约人口已经很多了（这是已知的情况），但上海的人口明显更多。

== Structure ==

<div class="jiegou">
Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + 更 / 还 + Adj. 
</div>

== Examples ==

<div class="liju">

*我 妹妹 <em>比</em> 我 <strong>更</strong> 瘦 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ mèimei <em>bǐ</em> wǒ <strong>gèng</strong> shòu.</span><span class="trans">My younger sister is even thinner than me.</span>
*我 的 猫 <em>比</em> 我 的 狗 <strong>更</strong> 淘气 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de māo <em>bǐ</em> wǒ de gǒu <strong>gèng</strong> táoqì.</span><span class="trans">My cat is even more naughty than my dog.</span>
*有时候 动物 <em>比</em> 人类 <strong>更</strong> 聪明 。<span class="pinyin">Yǒushíhou dòngwù <em>bǐ</em> rénlèi <strong>gèng</strong> cōngming.</span><span class="trans">Sometimes animals are even smarter than human beings.</span>
*大城市 的 工作 机会 <em>比</em> 我老家 <strong>更</strong> 多 。<span class="pinyin">Dàchéngshì de gōngzuò jīhuì <em>bǐ</em> wǒ lǎojiā <strong>gèng</strong> duō.</span><span class="trans">There are more job opportunities in big cities than in my hometown.</span>
*他 <em>比</em> 姚明 <strong>还</strong> 高 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>bǐ</em> Yáo Míng <strong>hái</strong> gāo.</span><span class="trans">He is even taller than Yao Ming.</span>
*昨天 38 度 ，今天 <em>比</em> 昨天<strong>还</strong> 热 。<span class="pinyin">Zuótiān sān shí bā dù, jīntiān <em>bǐ</em> zuótiān <strong>hái</strong> rè.</span><span class="trans">It was 38 degrees yesterday, and it's even hotter today.</span>
*这个 老外 的 汉语 说 得 <em>比</em> 中国人 <strong>还</strong> 地道 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège lǎowài de Hànyǔ shuō de <em>bǐ</em> Zhōngguó rén <strong>hái</strong> dìdao.</span><span class="trans">This foreigner speaks even more authentic Chinese than native speakers do.</span>

</div>

Note that “还”的语气更强烈，而且“还”常常包含说话人惊讶、怀疑的语气，所以可以用反问的形式表示怀疑、否定的意思。可以理解为“怎么可能⋯⋯”。“更”不能用于反问语气。

<div class="liju">

<ul>
<li class="o">你 <em>比</em> 老板 <strong>还</strong> 忙 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>bǐ</em> lǎobǎn <strong>hái</strong> máng?</span><span class="trans">You're even busier than the boss?</span></li>
<li class="x">你 <em>比</em> 老板 <strong>更</strong> 忙 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>bǐ</em> lǎobǎn <strong>gèng</strong> máng?</span><span class="trans">You're even busier than the boss?</span></li>
</ul>

Also note that 更 can be used with 了 in this pattern, indicating change of situation or state, while 还 can't  be used in this way.

</div>

<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li class="o">这个 地方 <em>比</em> 以前 <strong>更</strong> 热闹 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège dìfang <em>bǐ</em> yǐqián <strong>gèng</strong> rènao <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">This place is even more lively than before.</span></li>
<li class="x">这个 地方 <em>比</em> 以前 <strong>还</strong> 热闹 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège dìfang <em>bǐ</em> yǐqián <strong>hái</strong> rènao <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">This place is even more lively than before.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>

== See also ==

* [[Expressing "a bit too"]]
* [[Basic comparisons with "bi"]]
* [[Basic comparisons with "bu bi"]]
* [[Expressing "compared with" with "gen"]]
* [[Expressing comparable degree with "you"]]

== Sources and further reading ==

=== Books ===

{{Basic Grammar|比|B1|Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + 更 / 还 + Adj. |他 <em>比</em> 姚明 <strong>还</strong> 高 。|grammar point|ASG64E96}}
{{Rel char|更}}
{{Rel char|还}}
{{Similar|Basic comparisons with "bi"}}
{{Similar|Expressing "a little too" with "you dian"}}
{{Similar|Expressing comparable degree with "you"}}
{{Similar|Expressing "compared with" with "gen"}}
{{Similar|Basic comparisons with "bu bi"}}
{{Used for|Comparing}}
{{Used for|Adding more explanation}}
{{Used for|Expressing degree}}
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
{{Translation|even more}}