Difference between revisions of "Expressing "rather" with "bijiao""
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| − | + | The word 比较 (bǐjiào) can be a verb which means "to compare." But it can also be an [[adverb]] (no "-ly" required!) meaning "comparatively" or "rather." | |
== Used with Adjectives == | == Used with Adjectives == | ||
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*这个 问题 <em>比较</em> 简单 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège wèntí <em>bǐjiào</em> jiǎndān.</span><span class="trans">This question is quite easy.</span> | *这个 问题 <em>比较</em> 简单 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège wèntí <em>bǐjiào</em> jiǎndān.</span><span class="trans">This question is quite easy.</span> | ||
*我 觉得 这个 价格 <em>比较</em> 贵 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ juéde zhège jiàgé <em>bǐjiào</em> guì.</span><span class="trans">I think this price is rather expensive.</span> | *我 觉得 这个 价格 <em>比较</em> 贵 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ juéde zhège jiàgé <em>bǐjiào</em> guì.</span><span class="trans">I think this price is rather expensive.</span> | ||
| − | *我 家 离 市中心 <em>比较</em> 近 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ jiā lí shìzhōngxīn <em>bǐjiào</em> jìn.</span><span class="trans">My place is | + | *我 家 离 市中心 <em>比较</em> 近 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ jiā lí shìzhōngxīn <em>bǐjiào</em> jìn.</span><span class="trans">My place is relatively close to downtown.</span> |
| − | *大 城市 的 工作 压力 <em>比较</em> 大 。<span class="pinyin">Dà chéngshì de gōngzuò yālì <em>bǐjiào</em> dà.</span><span class="trans"> | + | *大 城市 的 工作 压力 <em>比较</em> 大 。<span class="pinyin">Dà chéngshì de gōngzuò yālì <em>bǐjiào</em> dà.</span><span class="trans">Jobs in big cities have quite a lot of pressure.</span> |
| − | *你 上班 坐 地铁 <em>比较</em> 方便 还是 骑车 <em>比较</em> 方便 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ shàngbān zuò dìtiě <em>bǐjiào</em> fāngbiàn háishì qíchē <em>bǐjiào</em> fāngbiàn?</span><span class="trans"> | + | *你 上班 坐 地铁 <em>比较</em> 方便 还是 骑车 <em>比较</em> 方便 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ shàngbān zuò dìtiě <em>bǐjiào</em> fāngbiàn háishì qíchē <em>bǐjiào</em> fāngbiàn?</span><span class="trans">To get to work, is it more convenient for you to take the metro or to ride a bike?</span> |
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== Used with Verbs == | == Used with Verbs == | ||
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| + | 比较 can also be used with [[psychological verb]]s. | ||
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
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*我 <em>比较</em> 讨厌 男人 说 脏话 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>bǐjiào</em> tǎoyàn nánrén shuō zānghuà.</span><span class="trans">I hate it when men say dirty words.</span> | *我 <em>比较</em> 讨厌 男人 说 脏话 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>bǐjiào</em> tǎoyàn nánrén shuō zānghuà.</span><span class="trans">I hate it when men say dirty words.</span> | ||
| − | *你 <em>比较</em> 喜欢 用 gmail 还是 hotmail ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>bǐjiào</em> xǐhuan yòng | + | *你 <em>比较</em> 喜欢 用 gmail 还是 hotmail ？<span class="expl">Note that for this phrase, the translation is a totally different verb.</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>bǐjiào</em> xǐhuan yòng Gmail háishì Hotmail?</span><span class="trans">Do you prefer to use Gmail or Hotmail?</span> |
| − | *我 父母 <em>比较</em> 反对 我 找 外国 男朋友 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ fùmǔ <em>bǐjiào</em> fǎnduì wǒ zhǎo wàiguó nánpéngyou.</span><span class="trans">My parents | + | *我 父母 <em>比较</em> 反对 我 找 外国 男朋友 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ fùmǔ <em>bǐjiào</em> fǎnduì wǒ zhǎo wàiguó nánpéngyou.</span><span class="trans">My parents rather object to me seeking a foreign boyfriend.</span> |
| − | *民众 <em>比较</em> 支持 新 的 就业 政策 。<span class="pinyin">Mínzhòng <em>bǐjiào</em> zhīchí xīn de jiùyè zhèngcè.</span><span class="trans">The public | + | *民众 <em>比较</em> 支持 新 的 就业 政策 。<span class="pinyin">Mínzhòng <em>bǐjiào</em> zhīchí xīn de jiùyè zhèngcè.</span><span class="trans">The public rather supports the new employment policy.</span> |
| − | *老板 通常 <em>比较</em> 关注 结果 ，不是 过程 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn tōngcháng <em>bǐjiào</em> guānzhù jiéguǒ, bù shì guòchéng.</span><span class="trans">The boss usually pays more attention | + | *老板 通常 <em>比较</em> 关注 结果 ，不是 过程 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn tōngcháng <em>bǐjiào</em> guānzhù jiéguǒ, bù shì guòchéng.</span><span class="trans">The boss usually pays more attention to results and not process.</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 09:54, 20 September 2018
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Keywords
The word 比较 (bǐjiào) can be a verb which means "to compare." But it can also be an adverb (no "-ly" required!) meaning "comparatively" or "rather."
Contents
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 。This question is quite easy.
- 我 觉得 这个 价格 比较 贵 。I think this price is rather expensive.
- 我 家 离 市中心 比较 近 。My place is relatively close to downtown.
- 大 城市 的 工作 压力 比较 大 。Jobs in big cities have quite a lot of pressure.
- 你 上班 坐 地铁 比较 方便 还是 骑车 比较 方便 ？To get to work, is it more convenient for you to take the metro or to ride a bike?
Used with Verbs
比较 can also be used with psychological verbs.
Structure
Subj. + 比较 + [Verb Phrase]
Examples
- 我 比较 讨厌 男人 说 脏话 。I hate it when men say dirty words.
- 你 比较 喜欢 用 gmail 还是 hotmail ？Note that for this phrase, the translation is a totally different verb.Do you prefer to use Gmail or Hotmail?
- 我 父母 比较 反对 我 找 外国 男朋友 。My parents rather object to me seeking a foreign boyfriend.
- 民众 比较 支持 新 的 就业 政策 。The public rather supports the new employment policy.
- 老板 通常 比较 关注 结果 ，不是 过程 。The boss usually pays more attention to results and not process.
See also
- Expressing "a little too" with "you dian"
- The "zui" superlative
- Special verbs with "hen"
- Expressing "a bit too"
