Basic comparisons with "yiyang"

As well as with 比 (bǐ) and 没有 (méiyǒu), there is a third way to make basic comparisons: with 一样 (yīyàng).

Rather than expressing that two things differ regarding a particular quality, 一样 (yīyàng) is used to express that two things are the same in some way.

Basic usage

Structure

The simple structure is used for stating that two things are equal:

Noun 1 + 跟 / 和 / 像+ Noun 2 + 一样

Examples

• 我 像 你 一样 。 Wǒ xiàng nǐ yīyàng. I am like you.
• 他 的 性格 像 他 妈妈 一样 。 Tā de xìnggé xiàng tā māma yīyàng. He has the same personality as his mom.
• 啤酒 和 葡萄酒 一样 吗 ？ Píjiǔ hé pútaojiǔ yīyàng ma? Are beer and wine the same?
• 这里 的 天气 和 上海 一样 。 Zhèlǐ de tiānqì hé Shànghǎi yīyàng. The weather here and the weather in Shanghai are the same.
• 北京 和 上海 一样 吗 ？ Běijīng hé Shànghǎi yīyàng ma? Are Beijing and Shanghai alike?
• 这 句 话 的 意思 和 那 句 一样 吗 ？ Zhè jù huà de yìsi hé nà jù yīyàng ma? Is the meaning of this sentence and that sentence the same?
• 这 本 书 跟 那 本 一样 。 Zhè běn shū gēn nà běn yīyàng. This book and that book are the same.
• 你 跟 他 不 一样 。 Nǐ gēn tā bù yīyàng. You are not like him.
• 桔子 跟 橙子 一样 吗 ？ Jú zi gēn chéngzi yīyàng ma? Are tangerines and oranges the same?
• 美国 跟 英国 不 一样 。 Měiguó gēn Yīngguó bù yīyàng. America and England are not alike.

一样 with Adjective

Structure

To add an adjective into the mix, just place it after 一样 (yīyàng):

Noun 1 + 跟 / 和 / 像 + Noun 2 + 一样 + Adjective

This describes Noun 1 as being as adjective as Noun 2.

Examples

• 你 跟 我 一样 高 。 Nǐ gēn wǒ yīyàng gāo. You and I are the same height.
• 他们 和 我们 一样 酷 。 Tāmen hé wǒmen yīyàng kǔ. They are as cool as we are.
• 小狗 像 小猫 一样 可爱 。 Xiǎogǒu xiàng xiǎomāo yīyàng kěài. Puppies and kittens are equally cute.
• 他 的 性格 像 他 妈妈 一样 好 。 Tā de xìnggé xiàng tā māma yīyàng hǎo. His personality is as good as his mother's.
• 啤酒 和 葡萄 酒 一样 好喝 吗 ？ Píjiǔ hé pútao jiǔ yīyàng hǎohē ma? Are beer and wine equally good to drink?
• 这里 的 天气 和 上海 一样 热 。 Zhèlǐ de tiānqì hé Shànghǎi yīyàng rè. The weather here is just as hot as Shanghai.
• 北京 和 上海 一样 大 吗 ？ Běijīng hé Shànghǎi yīyàng dà ma? Are Beijing and Shanghai equally big?
• 这 本 书 跟 那 本 一样 无聊 。 Zhè běn shū gēn nà běn yīyàng wúliáo. This book and that book are equally boring.
• 我 跟 你 一样 忙 。 Wǒ gēn nǐ yīyàng máng. I am just as busy as you.
• 这 个 房间 跟 那 个 一样 大 。 Zhè gè fángjiān gēn nà gè yīyàng dà. This apartment is just as big as that apartment.

See also

• Basic comparisons with "bi"
• Basic comparisons with "meiyou"
• Comparing

Sources and further reading

Books

• Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (p. 55) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (p. 244) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (p. 108) →buy

Websites

• Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: Usage of 跟 and 比