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.

Basic Pattern

Structure

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. Note that B is usually the one that the speaker is in favor of.

A + 有 + B + Adj. + 吗 ？

Examples

• 他 有 我 帅 吗 ？Tā yǒu wǒ shuài ma?Is he as handsome as me?
• 你 有 老板 忙 吗 ？Nǐ yǒu lǎobǎn máng ma?Are you as busy as the boss?
• 他 有 姚明 高 吗 ？Tā yǒu Yáo Míng gāo ma?Is he as tall as YaoMing?
• 纽约 人口 有 上海 人口 多 吗 ？Niǔyuē rénkǒu yǒu Shànghǎi rénkǒu duō ma?Is the population of New York city as big as that of Shanghai?

If a verb is included in this pattern to talk about an action, use this structure below:

A + 有 + B + Verb + 得 + Adj. + 吗 ？

A few examples:

• 他 有 我 做 得 好 吗 ？Tā yǒu wǒ zuò de hǎo ma?Can he do as well as I do?
• 你 有 Bolt 跑 得 快 吗 ？Nǐ yǒu Bolt pǎo de kuài ma?Can you run as fast as Bolt does?

Advanced Pattern

Structure

This form is often used with 这么 or 那么, which in this case means "as much." And it indicates that B is already very [Adj.]. When B is absent, 那么 means "so" or "that".

A + 有 (+ B) + 这么 / 那么 + Adj. + 吗 ？

Examples

• 她 有 那么 漂亮 吗 ？Tā yǒu nàme piàoliang ma?Is she really that pretty?
• 这个 药 有 这么 神奇 吗 ？Zhège yào yǒu zhème shénqí ma?Is this medicine really that magical?
• 他 有 姚明 那么 高 吗 ？Tā yǒu Yáo Míng nàme gāo ma?Is he really as tall as YaoMing?
• 你 有 Bill Gates 那么 有钱 吗 ？Nǐ yǒu Bill Gates nàme yǒuqián ma?Are you as rich as Bill Gates?

See also

• Basic comparisons with "meiyou"
• Basic comparisons with "bi"
• Basic comparisons with "bu bi"
• Comparisons with "buru"
• Basic comparisons with "yiyang"

Sources and further reading

Books

• New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 33-4) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• 现代汉语八百词 (pp. 631) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy