Basic comparisons with "bu bi"

You might wonder why you have 不比 (bù bǐ) for negative comparisons when you already have 没有 (méiyǒu) for comparisons. The answer is that they're not exactly the same thing! 没有 should be your "go to word" for expressing "not as... as...," but there are cases where 不比 (in all of its subtle glory) is a better choice.

Structure

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

Subject + 不比 + Noun + Adjective/Verb

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

Examples

• 这个老师 不 比他的 学生 聪明。The teacher is not smarter than his students.
• 明星的生活不 比普通人容易。Those stars' life is not easier than the folks'.
• 我 不 比 你 适应 现代都市生活。I am not more accustomed to the life in modern cities than you.
• 我 不 比 你 翻译 得 好。I don't translate as well as you do.

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.)

See also

• Basic comparisons with "bi"
• Basic comparisons with "meiyou"
• Expressing "much more" in comparisons

Sources and further reading

Books

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

HSK5