Expressing "much more" in comparisons
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If you want to up the intensity of your comparisons, you might want to express "much more." You can do this using 多 (duō), but did you know there are actually three different ways to do it?
Contents
Basic Pattern
Structure
As well as expressing that two things differ, you might want to go further and say that they differ a lot by adding 很多 (hěn duō), 多了(duō le), or 得多 (de duō). This is like saying that one thing is much more Adj. than another in English.
Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + Adj. + 很多 / 多了 / 得多
Examples
- 拼音 比 汉字 容易 很 多 。Pinyin is much easier than Chinese characters.
- 坐 高铁 比 坐 飞机 方便 很 多 。It's much more convenient to take the high-speed train than the airplane.
- 他 打 篮球 比 我 厉害 多 了 。He plays basketball much better than I do.
- 这 个 老师 比 那个 老师 严格 得 多 。This teacher is much more strict than that teacher.
- 我 感觉 今天 比 昨天 好 多了 。I feel much better today than yesterday.
Advanced Pattern
When used in a comparison, 还 expresses an even higher degree of the adjective.
Structure
Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + 还 + Adj.
Examples
- 这个 牌子 比 那个 牌子 还 贵 。This brandname is even more expensive than that one.
- 你 比 老板 还 忙 ？You're even busier than the boss?
- 他 比 姚明 还 高 。He is even taller than Yao Ming.
- 上海 的 人口 比 北京 还 多 。The population of Shanghai is even bigger than Beijing.
- 她 妈妈 比 她 还 年轻 。Her mother is even younger than her.
See also
- Expressing "a bit too"
- Basic comparisons with "bi"
- The "zui" superlative
- Basic comparisons with "bu bi"
Sources and further reading
Books
- New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 20) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 6- 8) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
Websites
- East Asia Student: Graded comparisons in Mandarin Chinese
