Basic comparisons with "yiyang"

Along with 比 (bǐ) and 没有 (méiyǒu), 一样 (yīyàng) is another way to make basic comparisons. However, 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 + Noun 2 + 一样

Examples

• 北京 的 天气 和 上海 不 一样。Běijīng de tiānqì hé Shànghǎi bù yīyàng. The weather in Beijing and the weather in Shanghai are not alike.
• 这 个 词 的 意思 和 那 个 词 一样 吗？Zhè ge cí de yìsi hé nà ge cí yīyàng ma? Is the meaning of this word and that word the same?
• 美国 文化 跟 中国 文化 不 一样。 Měiguó wénhuà gēn Zhōngguó wénhuà bù yīyàng. America culture and Chinese culture are not alike.
• 他 的 性格 跟 他 妈妈 一样。 Tā de xìnggé gēn tā māma yīyàng. He has the same personality as his mom.
• 啤酒 的 味道 和 葡萄酒 一样 吗？ Píjiǔ de wèidào hé pútaojiǔ yīyàng ma? Are the taste of beer and the taste of red wine the same?

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 + Adj.

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

Examples

• 你家 跟 我家 一样 大。 Nǐjiā gēn wǒjiā yīyàng dà. Your house is just as big as mine.
• 她 和 她哥哥 一样 高。 Tā hé tāgēge yīyàng gāo. She and her elder brother are equally tall.
• 你 的 头发 和 我的 头发 一样 长。Nǐ de tóufa hé wǒde tóufa yīyàng cháng. You hair is as long as mine.
• 这里 的 空气 跟 我 老家 一样 舒服。 Zhèlǐ de tiānqì gēn wǒ lǎojiā yīyàng shūfu. The weather here is just as comfortable as my hometown.
• 你 怎么 像 老板 一样 忙？Nǐ zěnme xiàng lǎobǎn yīyàng máng? How could you be so busy as a boss does?

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