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'' as much." Its usage can be a little tricky (different from English), so pay close attention to the pattern below. | |
== Comparing for Quantity == | == Comparing for Quantity == |
Revision as of 08:26, 11 October 2018
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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 as much." Its usage can be a little tricky (different from English), so pay close attention to the pattern below.
Contents
Comparing for Quantity
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 big as last year.
The following sentence pattern does not include cardinal numbers, and A is B multiplied with (N+1).
A + 比 + B + 多/扩大 / 增加 + 了 + Number + 倍
A few examples:
- 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.
- 公司 现在 的 规模 比 十 年 前 扩大 了 四 倍 。The company's current scope is five times what it was 10 years ago.
- 今年 的 产量 比 去年 增加 了 一 倍 。This year's production is doubled than last year's.
Comparing for Degree
This type of adjective has limits. Common examples include: 大 big、贵 expensive 、高 tall、长 long. Adjectives used to measure also include: 宽度 width, 厚度 thickness, 重量 heaviness, 速度 speed, etc. In Chinese, it is not common to use "lesser" adjectives in comparisons. For example, small, cheap, short, etc., are such adjectives.
Structure
A + 比 + B + Adj. + Number + 倍
Examples
- 我 家 客厅 比 你 家 客厅 大 一 倍 。My house's living room is double the size of your house's living room.
- 他 的 车 比 你 的 车 贵 十 倍 。His car is ten times more expensive than your car.
- 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 twice as fast as our speed.
- 中国 人口 比 美国 人口 多 四 倍 。China's population is four times bigger than America's.