Difference between revisions of "Basic comparisons with "bi""
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One of the most common ways to compare things in Chinese is to use 比(bǐ).
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== Basic patterns ==
 
== Basic patterns ==
  
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* 小李 <em>比</em> 小张 高。
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* 小李 <em>比</em> 小张 高。<span class="trans">Little Li is taller than Little Zhang.</span>
  
 
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* <em>她</em> <strong>比</strong> <em>我</em> 大。
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* <em>她</em> <strong>比</strong> <em>我</em> 大。<span class="trans">She is bigger than me.</span>
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* <em>我</em> <strong>比</strong> <em>你</em> 胖。
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* <em>我</em> <strong>比</strong> <em>你</em> 胖。<span class="trans">I'm fatter than you.</span>
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* <em>美国</em> <strong>比</strong> <em>英国</em> 大。
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* <em>美国</em> <strong>比</strong> <em>英国</em> 大。<span class="trans">America compared to England is bigger.</span>
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* <em>这 条 路</em> <strong>比</strong> <em>那 条</em> 长。
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* <em>这 条 路</em> <strong>比</strong> <em>那 条</em> 长。<span class="trans">This road compared to that road is longer.</span>
  
 
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<li class="x">我 <em>比</em> 你 <strong>不 聪明</strong> 。</li>
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<li class="x">我 <em>比</em> 你 <strong>不 聪明</strong> 。</li><span class="trans">I compared to you not smarter. (incorrect)</span>
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<li class="o">你 <em>比</em> 我 聪明</li>
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<li class="o">你 <em>比</em> 我 聪明</li><span class="trans">You are smarter than me. (correct)</span>
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<li class="o">我 <em>比</em> 你 笨</li>
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<li class="o">我 <em>比</em> 你 笨</li><span class="trans">I and dumber than you. (correct)</span>
 
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<li class="x">我 <em>比</em> 你 <strong>一样 聪明</strong> 。</li>
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<li class="x">我 <em>比</em> 你 <strong>一样 聪明</strong> 。</li><span class="trans">I compared to you the same smart. (incorrect)</span>
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<li class="o">我 <em>跟</em> 你 <strong>一样 聪明</strong> 。</li>
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<li class="o">我 <em>跟</em> 你 <strong>一样 聪明</strong> 。</li><span class="trans">I am as smart as you. (correct)span>
 
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Revision as of 07:08, 29 January 2013

One of the most common ways to compare things in Chinese is to use 比(bǐ).

Basic patterns

Also known as: 比字句 (bǐzì jù).

To say that one thing is more adjective than another, the structure is:

Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + Adjective

This 比 (bǐ) sits between the two things being compared. The noun that's placed first is the one that comes out on top in the comparison. So in the sentence:

  • 小李 比 小张 高。Little Li is taller than Little Zhang.

小李 is taller. The same situation could be described as

  • 小张 比 小李 矮。

Examples

  • 她 比 我 大。She is bigger than me.
  • 我 比 你 胖。I'm fatter than you.
  • 美国 比 英国 大。America compared to England is bigger.
  • 这 条 路 比 那 条 长。This road compared to that road is longer.

Common Errors

Try not to make these mistakes:

The adjective used in the comparison should be positive, not negative.

  • 我 比 你 不 聪明 。
    • I compared to you not smarter. (incorrect)
  • 你 比 我 聪明
    • You are smarter than me. (correct)
  • 我 比 你 笨
    • I and dumber than you. (correct)

比 is not used with 一样. 比 is used when two things are not the same.

  • 我 比 你 一样 聪明 。
    • I compared to you the same smart. (incorrect)
  • 我 跟 你 一样 聪明 。
    • I am as smart as you. (correct)span>

Finally, to express "not as... as," use 没有, and to express "not more... than" use 不比 (the negative cousin of 比).

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites

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