Basic comparisons with "bi"

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).

See also

• Expressing "much more" in comparisons
• Basic comparisons with "bu bi"
• Basic comparisons with "meiyou"

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
• New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 184-5) →buy

Websites

• East Asia Student: Simple comparisons in Mandarin Chinese
• Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: Usage of 跟 and 比