Difference between revisions of "Basic comparisons with "bu bi""

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== Structure ==
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To say that something is ''not more adjective'' as another, you can use 不比 (bù bǐ). No snickering at the back, please.
 
To say that something is ''not more adjective'' as another, you can use 不比 (bù bǐ). No snickering at the back, please.
 
The structure is:
 
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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This is similar to, but not exactly the same as [[Basic comparisons with "meiyou"|comparing with 没有]].
 
This is similar to, but not exactly the same as [[Basic comparisons with "meiyou"|comparing with 没有]].
  
Some examples:
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== Examples ==
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">

Revision as of 03:05, 17 May 2012

Structure

To say that something is not more adjective as another, you can use 不比 (bù bǐ). No snickering at the back, please.

Subject + 不比 + Noun + Adjective

This is similar to, but not exactly the same as comparing with 没有.

Examples

  • 小明 不 比 小刚 聪明。
  • 不 比 你 胖。
  • 不 比 你 翻译 得 好。

The Difference between 不比 and 没有

不比 and 没有 are not exactly the same. 没有 means "not as... as," whereas 不比 is a direct negation of , meaning "not more... than." Compare the following two English sentences:

  • You're not as smart as me. (没有)
  • You're not smarter than me. (不比)

You'd probably be more upset to hear the former from a friend than the latter. The two above sentences in Chinese are:

  • 没有 我 聪明。 (I am definitely smarter than you; we're not equal in smarts.)
  • 不 比 我 聪明。 (You're no smarter than I am, but we might be equal in smarts.)

See also

Sources and further reading

Books