Expressing "rather" with "bijiao"

The word 比较 (bǐjiào) can be a verb which means "to compare." But it can also be an adverb meaning "comparatively" or "rather."

Used with Adjectives

Structure

The adverb 比较 can be used to express "quite," "rather," or "relatively."

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 吧 ？Nǐ shàngbān zuò dìtiě bǐjiào fāngbiàn ba?To get to work, it's quite convenient for you to take the subway, right?

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