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 Pattern

Structure

A + 不如 + B

Examples

• 我 哥 的 成绩 不如 我 。My elder brother's .
• 看 电影 不如 看 原著 。Watching the movie isn't as good as reading the book.
• 他 总是 觉得 自己 不如 别人 。He always thinks he's not as good as other people.

Advanced Pattern

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 + 不如 + B + Adj.

A + Verb + 得 + 不如 + B + Adj.

A + Verb-Obj. + 不如 + B+ (Verb + 得) + Adj.

Examples

• 这 件 裙子 不如 那 件 好看 。This dress doesn't look as good as that one.
• 他 穿 得 不如 你 好看 。He doesn't dress as well as you do.
• 我 担心 我 解释 得 不如 你 清楚 。I'm afraid that I can't explain as clearly as you do.
• 他 说 中文 不如 他 老婆 说 得 地道 。He doesn't speak Chinese as authentically as his wife does.
• 我 打字 不如 你 打 得 快 。I don't type as fast as you do.

不如 as an Adverb

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

• 你们 在一起 总是 吵架 ，不如 分手 吧 。You always fight when you're together. You might as well break up.
• 不如 。 , might as well .
• 不如 。 , might as well .
• 不如 。 , might as well .
• 与其 空想，不如 马上 行动 。Rather than fantasizing, you might as well take action right away.

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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