Expressing comparable degree with "you"

有 (yǒu), besides just meaning "to have," can also be used in comparisons. It's what you use instead of 比 (bǐ) if something is "as [Adj.] as" something else.

Basic Pattern

The structure is very straightforward. It literally means "A has B's [Adj.]." The meaning is "A is as [Adj.] as B." This pattern is often used in questions. Note that B往往是被肯定的一方。

Structure

A + 有 + B + Adj. + 吗 ？

or

A + 有 + B + Verb + 得 + Adj. + 吗 ？

Examples

• 他 有 我 帅 吗 ？Tā yǒu wǒ shuài ma?Is he as handsome as me?
• 你 有 老板 忙 吗 ？Nǐ yǒu lǎobǎn máng ma?Are you as busy as the boss?
• 你 的 压力 有 我 大 吗 ？Nǐ de yālì yǒu wǒ dà ma?Is your pressure as much as mine?
• 你 有 他 说 得 好 吗 ？Nǐ yǒu tā shuō de hǎo ma?Can you speak as well as he does?
• 他 有 老师 懂 得 多 吗 ？Tā yǒu lǎoshī dǒng de duō ma?Does he know even more about the teacher?

Advanced Pattern

This form is often used with 那么, which in this case means "as much." And it indicates that B is already very [Adj.]. When B is absent, 那么 mean "so" or "that".

Structure

A + 有 (+ B) + 那么 + Adj. + 吗 ？

Examples

• 她 有 那么 漂亮 吗 ？Tā yǒu nàme piàoliang ma?Is she that pretty? Really?
• 他 有 姚明 那么 高 吗 ？Tā yǒu YáoMíng nàme gāo ma?Is he as tall as YaoMing?

See also

• Basic comparisons with "meiyou"
• Basic comparisons with "bi"
• Basic comparisons with "bu bi"
• Comparisons with "buru"
• Basic comparisons with "yiyang"

Sources and further reading

Books

• New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 33-4) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• 现代汉语八百词 (pp. 631) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy