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

You could think of 比 (bǐ) as meaning "than," except that it 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 than 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 than 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