Comparisons with "buru"

不如 (bùrú) can be used to make comparisons in a similar way as the 比 structure. In its simplest form 不如 is used to convey that A is “not as good as” B. Unlike the 比 structure, when used in this way, the adjective or verb can be omitted.

Simple Pattern

Structure

A + 不如 + B

Examples

• 我 哥 的 成绩 不如 我的 。Wǒ gē de chéngjī bùrú wǒ de.My older brother's grades are not as good as mine.
• 看 电影 不如 看 原著 。Kàn diànyǐng bùrú kàn yuánzhù.Watching a movie isn't as good as reading the book.
• 他 总是 觉得 自己 不如 别人 。Tā zǒng shì juéde zìjǐ bùrú biérén.He always thinks he's not as good as other people.

Advanced Patterns

When an adjective or verb is added to the structure it can then be used to mean A is not as "adjective" as B, or A does not "verb" as well as B:

Structure

A + 不如 + B + Adj.

A + Verb + 得 + 不如 + B + Adj.

A + Verb-Obj. + 不如 + B+ (Verb + 得) + Adj.

Examples

• 这 件 裙子 不如 那 件 好看 。Zhè jiàn qúnzi bùrú nà jiàn hǎokàn.This dress doesn't look as good as that one.
• 那个 说法 不如 这个 说法 实用 。Nàge shuōfǎ bùrú zhège shuōfǎ shíyòng.This saying isn't as practical as that one.
• 他 穿 得 不如 你 好看 。Tā chuān de bùrú nǐ hǎokàn.He doesn't dress as well as you do.
• 我 担心 我 解释 得 不如 你 清楚 。Wǒ dānxīn wǒ jiěshì de bùrú nǐ qīngchǔ.I'm afraid that I can't explain it as clearly as you.
• 他 说 中文 不如 他 老婆 说 得 地道 。Tā shuō Zhōngwén bùrú tā lǎopó shuō de dìdào.He doesn't speak Chinese as authentically as his wife does.
• 我 打字 不如 你 打 得 快 。Wǒ dǎ zì bùrú nǐ dǎ de kuài.I don't type as fast as you do.

不如 as an Adverb

When facing a choice, 不如 can also be used to mean "might as well" to emphasize the choice is the better of two options. When used like this, it is similar in meaning to 不妨.

Examples

• 在 家 看 电视 多 无聊 ！不如 去 KTV 吧 。Zàijiā kàn diànshì duō wúliáo! Bùrú qù KTV ba. , might as well .
• 我们 在 这里 等 也 是 浪费 时间 ，不如 先 去 吃 个 饭 吧 。Wǒmen zài zhèlǐ děng yěshì làngfèi shíjiān, bùrú xiān qù chī gè fàn ba.It's a waste of time for us to wait here.We might as well go out and eat something first.
• 与其 空想，不如 马上 行动 。Yǔqí kōngxiǎng, bùrú mǎshàng xíngdòng.Rather than fantasizing, you might as well take action right away.
• 与其 天天 吵架 ，不如 离婚 。Yǔqí tiāntiān chǎojià, bùrú líhūn.Rather than fighting each and every day, you might as well break up.

As in the last two example sentences, 不如 often occurs in the 与其...不如 structure, meaning "rather than X... might as well Y."

See also

• Basic comparisons with "bu bi"
• Basic comparisons with "meiyou"
• Comparing Specifically with "xiang"
• Comparing

Sources and further reading

Books

• A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) (pp. 543-7) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Boya Chinese Lower Intermediate 1 (博雅汉语准中级加速篇) (pp. 38-9) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 89) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Short-term Spoken Chinese: Elementary (汉语口语速成基础篇) (pp. 80-1) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy

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