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
Pattern with 多
Structure
As well as expressing that two things differ, you might want to go further and say that they differ a lot by adding 得多 / 多了/ 很多 (dé duō/duō le/hěn duō). This is like saying that one thing is much more Adj. than another in English.
Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + Adj. + 得多 / 多了 / 很多
Examples
- 上海 比 我 老家 贵 多了 。It's much more expensive in Shanghai than in my hometown.
- 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.
- 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.
- 韩国 的 整容 技术 比 我们 国家 发达 得多 。The cosmetic technology in Korea is more developed than our country.
Pattern with 还
When used in a comparison, 还 expresses an even higher degree of the adjective.
Structure
Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + 还 + Adj.
Examples
- 北京 的 人口 比 上海 还 多 。The population of Beijing is even bigger than Shanghai.
- 这 家 店 比 那 家 店 还 贵 。This shop is even more expensive than that one.
- 他 比 姚明 还 高 。He is even taller than Yao Ming.
- 你 比 我 还 懒 。You're even lazier than me.
- 弟弟 比 哥哥 还 调皮 。The younger brother is even more naughty than the elder brother.
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) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 6- 8) →buy
Websites
- East Asia Student: Graded comparisons in Mandarin Chinese
