Expressing "even more" with "geng" or "hai"

When used in a comparison, 更 (gèng) or 还 (hái) expresses an even higher degree of the adjective.

For example, New York is America's biggest city with a population of more than 8 million. Shanghai is China's biggest city, with a population of more than 20 million. “上海比纽约人口更/还多” emphasizes that New York already has a high population (already known situation), but Shanghai's population is obviously higher.

Structure

Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + 更 / 还 + Adj.

Examples

• 我 妹妹 比 我 更 瘦 。Wǒ mèimei bǐ wǒ gèng shòu.My younger sister is even thinner than me.
• 我 的 猫 比 我 的 狗 更 淘气 。Wǒ de māo bǐ wǒ de gǒu gèng táoqì.My cat is even more naughty than my dog.
• 有时候 动物 比 人类 更 聪明 。Yǒushíhou dòngwù bǐ rénlèi gèng cōngming.Sometimes animals are even smarter than human beings.
• 大城市 的 工作 机会 比 我老家 更 多 。Dàchéngshì de gōngzuò jīhuì bǐ wǒ lǎojiā gèng duō.There are more job opportunities in big cities than in my hometown.
• 他 比 姚明 还 高 。Tā bǐ Yáo Míng hái gāo.He is even taller than Yao Ming.
• 昨天 38 度 ，今天 比 昨天还 热 。Zuótiān sān shí bā dù, jīntiān bǐ zuótiān hái rè.It was 38 degrees yesterday, and it's even hotter today.
• 这个 老外 的 汉语 说 得 比 中国人 还 地道 。Zhège lǎowài de Hànyǔ shuō de bǐ Zhōngguó rén hái dìdao.This foreigner speaks even more authentic Chinese than native speakers do.

Note that “还”的语气更强烈，而且“还”常常包含说话人惊讶、怀疑的语气，所以可以用反问的形式表示怀疑、否定的意思。可以理解为“怎么可能⋯⋯”。“更”不能用于反问语气。 Note that 还 has a more intense tone, and it usually carries a tone of surprise and skepticism. Therefore, using the form of a rhetorical question with 还 can be understood as "how can it be?" 更 cannot be used in an interrogative tone.

• 你 比 老板 还 忙 ？Nǐ bǐ lǎobǎn hái máng?You're even busier than the boss?
• 你 比 老板 更 忙 ？Nǐ bǐ lǎobǎn gèng máng?You're even busier than the boss?

Also note that 更 can be used with 了 in this pattern, indicating change of situation or state, while 还 can't be used in this way.

• 这个 地方 比 以前 更 热闹 了 。Zhège dìfang bǐ yǐqián gèng rènao le.This place is even more lively than before.
• 这个 地方 比 以前 还 热闹 了 。Zhège dìfang bǐ yǐqián hái rènao le.This place is even more lively than before.

See also

• Expressing "a bit too"
• Basic comparisons with "bi"
• Basic comparisons with "bu bi"
• Expressing "compared with" with "gen"
• Expressing comparable degree with "you"