Basic comparisons with "yiyang"
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
As well as with 比 (bǐ) and 没有 (méiyǒu), there is a third way to make basic comparisons: with 一样 (yīyàng).
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.
Contents
Basic usage
Structure
The simple structure is used for stating that two things are equal:
Noun 1 + 跟 / 和 / 像+ Noun 2 + 一样
Examples
- 我 像 你 一样。I am like you.
- 他 的 性格 像 他 妈妈 一样。He has the same personality as his mom.
- 啤酒 和 葡萄酒 一样 吗？Are beer and wine the same?
- 这里 的 天气 和 上海 一样。The weather here and the weather in Shanghai are the same.
- 北京 和 上海 一样 吗？Are Beijing and Shanghai alike?
- 这 句 话 的 意思 和 那 句 一样 吗？Is the meaning of this sentence and that sentence the same?
- 这 本 书 跟 那 本一样。This book and that book are the same.
- 你 跟 他 不 一样。You are not like him.
- 桔子 跟 橙子 一样 吗？Are tangerines and oranges the same?
- 美国 跟 英国 不 一样。America and England are not alike.
一样 with Adjective
Structure
To add an adjective into the mix, just place it after 一样:
Noun 1 + 跟 / 和 / 像 + Noun 2 + 一样 + Adjective
This describes Noun 1 as being as adjective as Noun 2.
Examples
- 你 跟 我 一样 高。You and I are the same height.
- 他们 和 我们 一样 酷。They are as cool as we are.
- 小狗 像 小猫 一样 可爱。Puppies and kittens are equally cute.
- 他 的 性格 像 他 妈妈 一样 好。His personality is as good as his mother's.
- 啤酒 和 葡萄 酒 一样 好喝 吗？Are beer and wine equally good to drink?
- 这里 的 天气 和 上海 一样 热。The weather here is just as hot as Shanghai.
- 北京 和 上海 一样 大 吗？Are Beijing and Shanghai equally big?
- 这 本 书 跟 那 本一样 无聊。This book and that book are equally boring.
- 我 跟 你一样 忙。I am just as busy as you.
- 这 个 房间 跟 那 个一样 大。This apartment is just as big as that apartment.
See also
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
