Comparing specifically with "xiang"

像 (xiàng) is used to compare a specific characteristic of two things or people.

像 as "Just Like"

Structure

Noun 1 + 像 + Noun 2 + 一样 + Adj. / Verb

Examples

• 她 有时候 像 小孩 一样 天真 。Tā yǒushíhou xiàng xiǎohái yīyàng tiānzhēn.She's as naive as a little kid sometimes.
• 这个 老外 的 汉语 像 中国人一样 地道 。Zhège lǎowài de Hànyǔ xiàng Zhōngguó rén yīyàng dìdao.This foreigner can speak Chinese as fluently as native speakers do.
• 他 很 生气 ，像 疯子 一样 大 叫 起来 。Tā hěn shēngqì, xiàng fēngzi yīyàng dà jiào qǐlái.He was very angry and started to scream like a lunatic.
• 你 怎么 像 我 妈 一样 啰嗦 ！ Nǐ zěnme xiàng wǒ mā yīyàng luōsuo!Why do you sound as nagging as my mom!
• 我 像 你 一样 大 的时候，还 不 知道 手机 是 什么 。Wǒ xiàng nǐ yīyàng dà de shíhou, hái bù zhīdào shǒujī shì shénme.When I was as old as you are, I didn't know what a cell phone was.

不像 as "Not as ... as"

Structure

Noun 1 + 不像 + Noun 2 + (⋯⋯ ) 这么 / 那么 + Adj. / Verb

Examples

• 高铁 不 像 飞机 那么 快。Gāotiě bù xiàng fēijī nàme kuài.High-speed trains are not as fast as airplanes.
• 上海 的 冬天 不 像 北京 那么 干 。Shànghǎi de dōngtiān bù xiàng Běijīng nàme gān.Winters in Shanghai are not as dry as in Beijing.
• 这 个 男 老师 不 像 那 个 女 老师 那么 严格 。Zhège nán lǎoshī bù xiàng nàge nǚ lǎoshī nàme yángé.This male teacher is not as strict as that female teacher.
• 我 不 像 我 父母 那么 喜欢 省钱 。Wǒ bù xiàng wǒ fùmǔ nàme xǐhuan shěng qián.I don't like saving money as much as my parents.
• 中西部 不 像 东部 发展 得 那么 快 。Zhōng-xībù bù xiàng dōngbù fāzhǎn de nàme kuài.The middle and western regions hasn't developed as rapidly as the eastern region.

See also

• Comparing
• Basic comparisons with "bi"
• Basic comparisons with "yiyang"
• Expressing comparable degree with "you"
• Basic comparisons with "meiyou"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Boya Chinese Lower Intermediate 2 (博雅汉语准中级加速篇) (pp. 80) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy

HSK5