Difference between revisions of "Expressing "multiples" with "bei""
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− | The word 倍 (bèi) is used to express the idea of multiples, as in "3 ''times'' as many" or "5 ''times'' | + | The word 倍 (bèi) is used to express the idea of multiples, as in "3 ''times'' as many" or "5 ''times'' more." Its usage can be a little tricky (different from English), so pay close attention to the pattern below. |
− | == | + | == Directly Expressing Multiples == |
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+ | For this pattern, we're stating ''how many times more'' amount A is compared to amount B. Pretty straightforward. | ||
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
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*他 现在 的 工资 <strong>是</strong> 两 年 前 的 四 <em>倍</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Tā xiànzài de gōngzī <strong>shì</strong> liǎng nián qián de sì <em>bèi</em>.</span> <span class="trans">His current salary is four times what it was two years ago.</span> | *他 现在 的 工资 <strong>是</strong> 两 年 前 的 四 <em>倍</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Tā xiànzài de gōngzī <strong>shì</strong> liǎng nián qián de sì <em>bèi</em>.</span> <span class="trans">His current salary is four times what it was two years ago.</span> | ||
*公司 现在 的 规模 <strong>是</strong> 十 年 前 的 五 <em>倍</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Gōngsī xiànzài de guīmó <strong>shì</strong> shí nián qián de wǔ <em> bèi</em>.</span><span class="trans">The company's current scope is five times what it was 10 years ago.</span> | *公司 现在 的 规模 <strong>是</strong> 十 年 前 的 五 <em>倍</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Gōngsī xiànzài de guīmó <strong>shì</strong> shí nián qián de wǔ <em> bèi</em>.</span><span class="trans">The company's current scope is five times what it was 10 years ago.</span> | ||
− | *今年 的 产量 <strong>是</strong> 去年 的 两 <em>倍</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Jīnnián de chǎnliàng <strong>shì</strong> qùnián de liǎng <em>bèi</em>.</span><span class="trans">This year's output is twice as | + | *今年 的 产量 <strong>是</strong> 去年 的 两 <em>倍</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Jīnnián de chǎnliàng <strong>shì</strong> qùnián de liǎng <em>bèi</em>.</span><span class="trans">This year's output is twice as much as last year's.</span> |
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</div> | </div> | ||
− | + | == Expressing "More" with Multiples == | |
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− | + | This pattern involves an adjective, one of the most common being 多 ("many"). You'll see other adjectives related to quantity appearing in this pattern as well, such as 大 ("big"), 贵 ("expensive"), 高 ("tall"), 长 ("long"), etc. In Chinese, it is not common to use the "negative opposite" adjectives in these kinds of comparisons, so you won't normally see the words for "small," "cheap," "short," etc. appearing in this pattern. | |
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=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
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A + 比 + B + Adj. + Number + 倍 | A + 比 + B + Adj. + Number + 倍 | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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+ | One very important linguistic difference between English and Chinese to note here is that in Chinese, you're typically talking about how many multiples ''in addition'' to the original amount. So 多一倍 is "x + 1x," in other words "double" the original amount. Naturally, 多两倍 would be ''triple'' the original amount (x + 2x). This little detail is sometimes confusing even for native speakers, so if you're talking about multiples and 多 is involved, be sure to use actual numbers to confirm both sides are on the same page! | ||
=== Examples === | === Examples === | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
− | *我 家 客厅 <strong>比</strong> 你 家 客厅 <strong>大</strong> 一 <em>倍</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ jiā kètīng <em>bǐ</em> nǐ jiā kètīng <strong>dà</strong> yī <em>bèi</em>.</span><span class="trans">My | + | *我 家 客厅 <strong>比</strong> 你 家 客厅 <strong>大</strong> 一 <em>倍</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ jiā kètīng <em>bǐ</em> nǐ jiā kètīng <strong>dà</strong> yī <em>bèi</em>.</span><span class="trans">My home's living room is double the size of your home's living room.</span> |
− | * | + | *这个 15 岁 的 男孩 <strong>比</strong> 一般 的 孩子 <strong>重</strong> 一 <em>倍</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège shíwǔ suì de nánhái <strong>bǐ</strong> yībān de háizi <strong>zhòng</strong> yī <em>bèi</em>.</span><span class="trans">This fifteen-year-old kid weighs double what a normal kid at his age should weigh.</span> |
− | * | + | *你 的 速度 <strong>比</strong> 我们 <strong>快</strong> 两 <em>倍</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de sùdù <strong>bǐ</strong> wǒmen <strong>kuài</strong> liǎng <em>bèi</em>.</span><span class="trans">Your speed is three times as fast as our speed.</span> |
− | * | + | *他 现在 的 工资 <strong>比</strong> 两 年 前 <strong>多</strong> 了 三 <em>倍</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Tā xiànzài de gōngzī <strong>bǐ</strong> liǎng nián qián <strong>duō</strong> le sān <em>bèi</em>.</span><span class="trans">His salary is four times higher now than what it was two years ago.</span> |
− | *中国 人口 <strong>比</strong> 美国 人口 <strong>多</strong> 四 <em>倍</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhōngguó rénkǒu <strong>bǐ</strong> Měiguó rénkǒu <strong>duō</strong> sì <em>bèi</em>.</span><span class="trans">China's population is | + | *中国 人口 <strong>比</strong> 美国 人口 <strong>多</strong> 四 <em>倍</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhōngguó rénkǒu <strong>bǐ</strong> Měiguó rénkǒu <strong>duō</strong> sì <em>bèi</em>.</span><span class="trans">China's population is five times as large as the USA's.</span> |
+ | *他 的 车 <strong>比</strong> 你 的 车 <strong>贵</strong> 十 <em>倍</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Tā de chē <strong>bǐ</strong> nǐ de chē <strong>guì</strong> shí <em>bèi</em>.</span><span class="trans">His car is 11 times more expensive than your car.</span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
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=== Books === | === Books === | ||
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+ | {{Source|HSK Standard Course 4上|69}} | ||
[[Category:B1 grammar points]] | [[Category:B1 grammar points]] | ||
− | + | {{HSK|HSK4}} | |
− | {{Basic Grammar|倍|B1| | + | {{Basic Grammar|倍|B1|Noun 1 + 是 + Noun 2 + 的 + Number + 倍|他 现在 的 工资 <strong>是</strong> 两 年 前 的 三 <em>倍</em> 。|grammar point|ASG7D4EC}} |
+ | {{Rel char|比}} | ||
+ | {{Rel char|多}} | ||
{{Used for|Expressing quantity}} | {{Used for|Expressing quantity}} | ||
{{Used for|Comparing}} | {{Used for|Comparing}} | ||
{{Similar|Expressing fractions with "fenzhi"}} | {{Similar|Expressing fractions with "fenzhi"}} | ||
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}} | {{Structure|Sentence Patterns}} | ||
+ | {{Subprop|Basic/Simple Sentence Patterns}} | ||
+ | {{Translation|times}} |
Latest revision as of 04:48, 9 March 2019
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
The word 倍 (bèi) is used to express the idea of multiples, as in "3 times as many" or "5 times more." Its usage can be a little tricky (different from English), so pay close attention to the pattern below.
Contents
Directly Expressing Multiples
For this pattern, we're stating how many times more amount A is compared to amount B. Pretty straightforward.
Structure
A + 是 + B + 的 + Number + 倍
Examples
- 他 现在 的 工资 是 两 年 前 的 四 倍 。 His current salary is four times what it was two years ago.
- 公司 现在 的 规模 是 十 年 前 的 五 倍 。The company's current scope is five times what it was 10 years ago.
- 今年 的 产量 是 去年 的 两 倍 。This year's output is twice as much as last year's.
Expressing "More" with Multiples
This pattern involves an adjective, one of the most common being 多 ("many"). You'll see other adjectives related to quantity appearing in this pattern as well, such as 大 ("big"), 贵 ("expensive"), 高 ("tall"), 长 ("long"), etc. In Chinese, it is not common to use the "negative opposite" adjectives in these kinds of comparisons, so you won't normally see the words for "small," "cheap," "short," etc. appearing in this pattern.
Structure
A + 比 + B + Adj. + Number + 倍
One very important linguistic difference between English and Chinese to note here is that in Chinese, you're typically talking about how many multiples in addition to the original amount. So 多一倍 is "x + 1x," in other words "double" the original amount. Naturally, 多两倍 would be triple the original amount (x + 2x). This little detail is sometimes confusing even for native speakers, so if you're talking about multiples and 多 is involved, be sure to use actual numbers to confirm both sides are on the same page!
Examples
- 我 家 客厅 比 你 家 客厅 大 一 倍 。My home's living room is double the size of your home's living room.
- 这个 15 岁 的 男孩 比 一般 的 孩子 重 一 倍 。This fifteen-year-old kid weighs double what a normal kid at his age should weigh.
- 你 的 速度 比 我们 快 两 倍 。Your speed is three times as fast as our speed.
- 他 现在 的 工资 比 两 年 前 多 了 三 倍 。His salary is four times higher now than what it was two years ago.
- 中国 人口 比 美国 人口 多 四 倍 。China's population is five times as large as the USA's.
- 他 的 车 比 你 的 车 贵 十 倍 。His car is 11 times more expensive than your car.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books