Basic comparisons with "bu bi"

Level

B2 / HSK5
Level

B2
Level

HSK5
Similar to
- Basic comparisons with "bi" (A2)
- Expressing "even more" with "geng" or "hai" (B1)
- Expressing "much more" in comparisons (B1)
- Expressing comparable degree with "you" (B1)
- Comparisons with "biqi" (B2)
- Comparisons with "buru" (B2)
Similar to
- Basic comparisons with "bi" (HSK2)
- Expressing "much more" in comparisons (HSK2, HSK3)
- Expressing "even more" with "geng" or "hai" (HSK3)
- Expressing comparable degree with "you" (HSK3)
- Comparisons with "biqi" (HSK5)
- Comparisons with "buru" (HSK5)
Used for

Denying and refusing, Comparing
Keywords

没有, 比, 不比

Often Chinese speakers will say something (or someone!) is not as good/strong/smart as something else. This is one the grammar patterns they use.

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/Verb

This is similar to, but not exactly the same as comparing with 没有.

Examples

这个老师 不比他的学生聪明。The teacher is not smarter than his students.
明星的生活不比普通人容易。Those stars' life is not easier than the folks'.
我 不比 你适应现代都市生活。I am not more accustomed to the life in modern cities than you.
我 不比 你翻译得好。I don't translate as well as you do.

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.)

Sources and further reading

Books

Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 64) →buy