Difference between revisions of "Expressing "even more" with "geng" or "hai""
 
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When used in a comparison, 更 (gèng) or 还 (hái) expresses an even higher degree of the adjective. 比如，美国最大的城市纽约，有八百多万人口。而中国最大的城市上海，有两千多万人口，“上海比纽约人口更/还多”强调纽约人口已经很多了（这是已知的情况），但上海的人口明显更多。
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When used in a comparison, 更 (gèng) or 还 (hái) can kick up an adjective to an even higher degree. For example, New York City is America's biggest city with a population of around 9 million. Shanghai is China's biggest city, with a population of more than 20 million. So even though NYC's population is big, Shanghai's is even bigger. You'd use 更 or 还 to express this in Chinese.
  
 
== Structure ==
 
== Structure ==
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*我 妹妹 <em>比</em> 我 <strong>更</strong> 瘦 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ mèimei <em>bǐ</em> wǒ <strong>gèng</strong> shòu.</span><span class="trans">My younger sister is even thinner than me.</span>
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*上海 <em>比</em> 纽约 人口 <strong>更</strong> 多 。<span class="pinyin">Shànghǎi <em>bǐ</em> Niǔyuē rénkǒu <strong>gèng</strong> duō.</span><span class="trans">Shanghai's population is even bigger than New York's.</span>
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*我 的 猫 <em>比</em> 我 的 狗 <strong>更</strong> 淘气 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de māo <em>bǐ</em> wǒ de gǒu <strong>gèng</strong> táoqì.</span><span class="trans">My cat is even more naughty than my dog.</span>
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*我 妹妹 <em>比</em> 我 <strong>更</strong> 瘦 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ mèimei <em>bǐ</em> wǒ <strong>gèng</strong> shòu.</span><span class="trans">My younger sister is even skinnier than me.</span>
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*我 的 猫 <em>比</em> 我 的 狗 <strong>更</strong> 淘气 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de māo <em>bǐ</em> wǒ de gǒu <strong>gèng</strong> táoqì.</span><span class="trans">My cat is even naughtier than my dog.</span>
 
*有时候 动物 <em>比</em> 人类 <strong>更</strong> 聪明 。<span class="pinyin">Yǒushíhou dòngwù <em>bǐ</em> rénlèi <strong>gèng</strong> cōngming.</span><span class="trans">Sometimes animals are even smarter than human beings.</span>
 
*有时候 动物 <em>比</em> 人类 <strong>更</strong> 聪明 。<span class="pinyin">Yǒushíhou dòngwù <em>bǐ</em> rénlèi <strong>gèng</strong> cōngming.</span><span class="trans">Sometimes animals are even smarter than human beings.</span>
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*大城市 的 工作 机会 <em>比</em> 我老家 <strong>更</strong> 多 。<span class="pinyin">Dàchéngshì de gōngzuò jīhuì <em>bǐ</em> wǒ lǎojiā <strong>gèng</strong> duō.</span><span class="trans">There are more job opportunities in big cities than in my hometown.</span>
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*大 城市 的 工作 机会 <em>比</em> 我 老家 <strong>更</strong> 多 。<span class="pinyin">Dà chéngshì de gōngzuò jīhuì <em>bǐ</em> wǒ lǎojiā <strong>gèng</strong> duō.</span><span class="trans">There are even more job opportunities in big cities than in my hometown.</span>
 
*他 <em>比</em> 姚明 <strong>还</strong> 高 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>bǐ</em> Yáo Míng <strong>hái</strong> gāo.</span><span class="trans">He is even taller than Yao Ming.</span>
 
*他 <em>比</em> 姚明 <strong>还</strong> 高 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>bǐ</em> Yáo Míng <strong>hái</strong> gāo.</span><span class="trans">He is even taller than Yao Ming.</span>
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*昨天 38 度 ，今天 <em>比</em> 昨天<strong>还</strong> 热 。<span class="pinyin">Zuótiān sān shí bā dù, jīntiān <em>bǐ</em> zuótiān <strong>hái</strong> rè.</span><span class="trans">It was 38 degrees yesterday, and it's even hotter today.</span>
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*昨天 38 度 ，今天 <em>比</em> 昨天<strong>还</strong> 热 。<span class="expl">38 ºC = 100 ºF</span><span class="pinyin">Zuótiān sānshí-bā dù, jīntiān <em>bǐ</em> zuótiān <strong>hái</strong> rè.</span><span class="trans">It was 38 degrees yesterday, and it's even hotter today.</span>
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*这个 老外 的 汉语 说 得 <em>比</em> 中国人 <strong>还</strong> 地道 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège lǎowài de Hànyǔ shuō de <em>bǐ</em> Zhōngguó rén <strong>hái</strong> dìdao.</span><span class="trans">This foreigner speaks even more authentic Chinese than native speakers do.</span>
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*这个 外国人 的 汉语 说 得 <em>比</em> 中国 人 <strong>还</strong> 地道 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège wàiguó rén de Hànyǔ shuō de <em>bǐ</em> Zhōngguó rén <strong>hái</strong> dìdao.</span><span class="trans">This foreigner speaks even more authentic Chinese than native speakers do.</span>
  
 
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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。
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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?"
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<li class="o">你 <em>比</em> 老板 <strong>还</strong> 忙 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>bǐ</em> lǎobǎn <strong>hái</strong> máng?</span><span class="trans">You're even busier than the boss?</span></li>
 
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<li class="x">你 <em>比</em> 老板 <strong>更</strong> 忙 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>bǐ</em> lǎobǎn <strong>gèng</strong> máng?</span><span class="trans">You're even busier than the boss?</span></li>
 
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</ul>
 
  
 
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.
 
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.
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<li class="o">这个 地方 <em>比</em> 以前 <strong>更</strong> 热闹 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège dìfang <em>bǐ</em> yǐqián <strong>gèng</strong> rènao <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">This place is even more lively than before.</span></li>
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<li class="x">这个 地方 <em>比</em> 以前 <strong>还</strong> 热闹 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège dìfang <em>bǐ</em> yǐqián <strong>hái</strong> rènao <strong>le</strong>.</span></li>
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<li class="x">这个 地方 <em>比</em> 以前 <strong>还</strong> 热闹 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège dìfang <em>bǐ</em> yǐqián <strong>hái</strong> rènao <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">This place is even more lively than before.</span></li>
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<li class="o">这个 地方 <em>比</em> 以前 <strong>更</strong> 热闹 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège dìfang <em>bǐ</em> yǐqián <strong>gèng</strong> rènao <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">This place is even livelier than before.</span></li>
 
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{{Basic Grammar|比|B1|Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + 更 / 还 + Adj. |他 <em>比</em> 姚明 <strong>还</strong> 高 。|grammar point|ASG64E96}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|比|B1|Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + 更 / 还 + Adj. |他 <em>比</em> 姚明 <strong>还</strong> 高 。|grammar point|ASG64E96}}
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{{HSK|HSK3}}
 
{{Rel char|更}}
 
{{Rel char|更}}
 
{{Rel char|还}}
 
{{Rel char|还}}
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{{Used for|Expressing degree}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing degree}}
 
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
 
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
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{{Subprop|Comparison Patterns}}
 
{{Translation|even more}}
 
{{Translation|even more}}
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{{Translation|even}}
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{{Translation|more}}

Latest revision as of 08:25, 22 April 2019

When used in a comparison, 更 (gèng) or 还 (hái) can kick up an adjective to an even higher degree. For example, New York City is America's biggest city with a population of around 9 million. Shanghai is China's biggest city, with a population of more than 20 million. So even though NYC's population is big, Shanghai's is even bigger. You'd use 更 or 还 to express this in Chinese.

Structure

Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + 更 / 还 + Adj.

Examples

  • 上海 比 纽约 人口 更 多 。Shànghǎi bǐ Niǔyuē rénkǒu gèng duō.Shanghai's population is even bigger than New York's.
  • 我 妹妹 比 我 更 瘦 。Wǒ mèimei bǐ wǒ gèng shòu.My younger sister is even skinnier 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 naughtier 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 。Dà chéngshì de gōngzuò jīhuì bǐ wǒ lǎojiā gèng duō.There are even 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 。38 ºC = 100 ºFZuótiān sānshí-bā dù, jīntiān bǐ zuótiān hái rè.It was 38 degrees yesterday, and it's even hotter today.
  • 这个 外国人 的 汉语 说 得 比 中国 人 还 地道 。Zhège wàiguó rén de Hànyǔ shuō de bǐ Zhōngguó rén hái dìdao.This foreigner speaks even more authentic Chinese than native speakers do.

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?"

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

See also

Sources and further reading

Books



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