Difference between revisions of "Basic comparisons with "bi""

Revision as of 09:15, 8 June 2013

Level

A2 / HSK2
Level

A2
Level

HSK2
Similar to
Similar to
- Expressing "much more" in comparisons (HSK2, HSK3)
- Basic comparisons with "meiyou" (HSK3)
- Basic comparisons with "yiyang" (HSK3)
- Expressing "even more" with "geng" or "hai" (HSK3)
- Expressing comparable degree with "you" (HSK3)
- Basic comparisons with "bu bi" (HSK5)
Used for

Comparing
Keywords

比

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 am 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)

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

Sources and further reading

Books

Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 61-3) →buy
Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 53) →buy
New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (pp. 65-6) →buy
Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 6- 8) →buy

Websites

East Asia Student: Simple comparisons in Mandarin Chinese

@@ Line 83: / Line 83: @@
 * [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 53) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
 * [[New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)]] (pp. 65-6) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561911297/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561911297 →buy]
-* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2]] (pp. 6- 8) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
+* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 6- 8) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
 === Websites ===