Difference between revisions of "Basic comparisons with "bu bi""
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{{Similar|Expressing "much more" in comparisons}} | {{Similar|Expressing "much more" in comparisons}} | ||
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=== Books === | === Books === | ||
Revision as of 08:03, 15 October 2012
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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
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.)
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 64) →buy
