Basic comparisons with "bu bi"

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。
• 我 不 比 你 胖。
• 我 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 比, 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:

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

Sources and further reading

Books

• Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 64) →buy

HSK4