Expressing "rather" with "bijiao"

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

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 relatively close to downtown.
• 大 城市 的 工作 压力 比较 大 。Dà chéngshì de gōngzuò yālì bǐjiào dà.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 ？Nǐ shàngbān zuò dìtiě bǐjiào fāngbiàn háishì qíchē bǐjiào fāngbiàn?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 。Wǒ bǐjiào tǎoyàn nánrén shuō zānghuà.I quite hate it when men use foul language.
• 你 比较 喜欢 用 Gmail 还是 Hotmail ？Note that for this phrase, the translation is a totally different verb.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 rather object to me seeking a foreign boyfriend.
• 民众 比较 支持 新 的 就业 政策 。Mínzhòng bǐjiào zhīchí xīn de jiùyè zhèngcè.The public rather 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 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"

Sources and further reading

Books

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