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.

Used for Comparison

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.

Structure

A + 有 + B + Adj. + 吗 ？

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".

A + 有 (+ B) + 那么 + Adj. + 吗 ？

Examples

  • 他 有 我 帅 吗 ？Tā yǒu wǒ shuài ma?Is he as handsome as me?
  • 泰国 有 日本 好玩 吗 ？Tàiguó yǒu Rìběn hǎowán ma?Is Thailand as fun as Japan?
  • 你 家 有 他 家 有钱 吗 ？Nǐ jiā yǒu tā jiā yǒuqián ma?Is your family as rich as his family is?
  • 你 的 工资 有 那么 高 吗 ？Nǐ de gōngzī yǒu nàme gāo ma?Is your salary that high?
  • 他 有 那么 厉害 吗 ？Tā yǒu nàme lìhai ma?Is he that difficult to deal with?

Used for Description

Notice that all these example sentences are questions. This form can also be used in simple statements. Note that 描述人身高、体重或空间大小时，用数字加相应的计量单位，如"米、公斤、平方米"即可，不用加"高、重、大"。

Structure

Subj. + 有 + 多 + 大 / 高 / 长 / 重 ？

Examples

  • 你 家 有 多 大 ？ Nǐ jiā yǒu duō dà ?How big is your house?
  • 我 家 有 一百 三十 平 。Wǒ jiā yǒu yī bǎi sānshí píng.My house is 130 square meters.
  • 他 有 多 高 ？Tā yǒu duō gāo?How tall is he?
  • 他 有 一 米 九 。Tā yǒu yī mǐ jiǔ.His height is 1.9 meter.
  • 这 条 河 多 长 ？Zhè tiáo hé yǒu duō cháng?How long is this river?
  • 这 条 河 五 百 多 公里（长）。Zhè tiáo hé yǒu wǔ bǎi duō gōnglǐ (cháng).This river is five hundred kilometers long.
  • 他 多 重 ？Tā yǒu duō zhòng?How much does he weigh?
  • 这个 孩子 才 十 岁，已经 150 斤 了 。One "jin" = 500gZhège háizi cái shí suì, yǐjīng yī bǎi wǔshí jīn le.This kid is only ten, but he's already 150 jin.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

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