Expressing "rather" with "bijiao"

It's rather nice to be able to read an article on how to use 比较 (bǐjiào) to mean "rather." And here it is!

Used with Adjectives

Structure

The adverb 比较 can be used to express "quite," "rather," or "relatively." It's a way of comparing one thing with a general idea instead of comparing two concrete things.

Subj. + 比较 + Adj.

Examples

• 这个 问题 比较 简单 。Zhège wèntí bǐjiào jiǎndān.This question is quite easy.
• 我 觉得 这个 价格 比较 贵 。Wǒ juéde zhège jiàgé bǐjiào guì.I think this price is rather expensive.
• 我 家 离 市中心 比较 近 。Wǒ jiā lí shìzhōngxīn bǐjiào jìn.My place is rather close to downtown.
• 大 城市 的 工作 压力 比较 大 。Dà chéngshì de gōngzuò yālì bǐjiào dà.Working in big cities is creates quite a lot of pressure.
• 你 上班 坐 地铁 比较 方便 还是 骑车 比较 方便 ？Nǐ shàngbān zuò dìtiě bǐjiào fāngbiàn háishì qíchē bǐjiào fāngbiàn?Is it more convenient for you to take the metro to work or to ride a bike?

Used with Verbs

Structure

Subj. + 比较 + [Verb Phrase]

Examples

• 我 比较 讨厌 男人 说 脏话 。Wǒ bǐjiào tǎoyàn nánrén shuō zānghuà.I hate it when men say dirty words.
• 你 比较 喜欢 用 gmail 还是 hotmail ？Nǐ bǐjiào xǐhuan yòng gmail háishì hotmail?Do you prefer to use Gmail or hotmail?
• 我 父母 比较 反对 我 找 外国 男朋友 。Wǒ fùmǔ bǐjiào fǎnduì wǒ zhǎo wàiguó nánpéngyou.My parents quite object to the fact that I'm with a foreign boyfriend.
• 民众 比较 支持 新 的 就业 政策 。Mínzhòng bǐjiào zhīchí xīn de jiùyè zhèngcè.The public comparatively supports the new employment policy.
• 老板 通常 比较 关注 结果 ，不是 过程 。Lǎobǎn tōngcháng bǐjiào guānzhù jiéguǒ, bù shì guòchéng.The boss usually pays more attention on the results instead of the process.

See also

• Expressing "a little too" with "you dian"
• The "zui" superlative
• Special verbs with "hen"
• Expressing "a bit too"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 49-50) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy