Comparisons with "buru"

不如 (bùrú) can be used to make comparisons in a similar way as the 比 structure. In its simplest form 不如 is used to convey that A is 'not as good as' B. Unlike the 比 structure, when used in this way, the adjective or verb can be omitted.

Simple form

Structure

A + 不如 + B

Examples

• 我 感觉看 电影 不如 看 电视剧。I think that watching movies isn't as good as watching TV dramas.
• 浙江 人 特别 会 做 生意，连 广东 人 都不如他们！People from Zhejiang can really do business, even people from Guangdong aren't as good as they are!

Complex form

When an adjective or verb is added to the structure it can then be used to mean A is not as 'adjective' as B, or A does not 'verb' as well as B:

Structure

A (Verb) + 不如 + B + Adj. / Verb

Examples

• 我 不如 姚明 高。I am not as tall as Yao Ming.
• 城市 的 生活 环境 不如 乡下 舒服。The city life environment isn't as comfortable as the countryside.
• 他 用 Excel表格 不如 我 用 得 好。He doesn't use Excel sheets as well as I do.
• 这个 语法点 不如 前面的 那个 解释 得 清楚。The explanation of this grammar point isn't as clear as the explanation for the last one.

不如 as an adverb

Structure

不如 + Verb / [Verb Phrase]

When facing a choice, 不如 can also be used to mean "might as well" to emphasize the choice is the better of two options. When used like this, it is similar in meaning to 不妨.

Examples

• 既然 已经 做了 一半 了，你 不如 坚持 下去。You've already done half of it, might as well keep going.
• 与其 空想，不如 马上 行动，做 出 点儿 成绩。Rather than fantasizing, might as well take action right away. Achieve something.

As in the last example sentence, 不如 often occurs in the 与其...不如 structure, meaning "rather than X... might as well Y."

See also

• Basic comparisons with "bu bi"
• Basic comparisons with "meiyou"
• Comparing Specifically with "xiang"
• Comparing

Sources and further reading

Books

• A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) (pp. 543-7) →buy
• Boya Chinese Lower Intermediate 1 (博雅汉语准中级加速篇) (pp. 38-9)→buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 89) →buy
• Short-term Spoken Chinese: Elementary (汉语口语速成基础篇) (pp. 80-1)→buy

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