Basic comparisons with "yiyang"

Along with 比 (bǐ) and 没有 (méiyǒu), 一样 (yīyàng) is another way to make basic comparisons. However, 一样 (yīyàng) is used to express that two things are the same in some way.

Basic Usage

Structure

This simple structure is used for stating that two things are the same:

Noun 1 + 跟 / 和 + Noun 2 + 一样

Examples

• 我 和 你 一样 。Wǒ hé nǐ yīyàng.I am the same as you.
• 他 的 性格 跟 他 妈妈 一样 。Tā de xìnggé gēn tā māma yīyàng.He has the same personality as his mom.
• 北京 的 天气 和 上海 不 一样 。Běijīng de tiānqì hé Shànghǎi bù yīyàng.The weather in Beijing and the weather in Shanghai are not alike.
• 这 个 词 的 意思 和 那 个 词 一样 吗 ？Zhège cí de yìsi hé nàge cí yīyàng ma?Are the meanings of this word and that word the same?
• 美国 文化 跟 中国 文化 不 一样 。Měiguó wénhuà gēn Zhōngguó wénhuà bù yīyàng.American culture and Chinese culture are not the same.

一样 (yīyàng) with Adjectives

Structure

To add an adjective into the mix, just place it after 一样 (yīyàng):

Noun 1 + 跟 / 和 + Noun 2 + 一样 + Adj.

This describes Noun 1 as being as adjective as Noun 2.

Examples

• 你家 跟 我家 一样 大。 Nǐ jiā gēn wǒ jiā yīyàng dà.Your house is just as big as mine.
• 她 和 她 哥哥 一样 高。 Tā hé tā gēge yīyàng gāo.She and her older brother are equally tall.
• 你 的 头发 和 我的 头发 一样 长。Nǐ de tóufa hé wǒ de tóufa yīyàng cháng.You hair is as long as mine.
• 这里 的 天气跟 我 老家 一样 舒服。Zhèlǐ de tiānqì gēn wǒ lǎojiā yīyàng shūfu.The weather here is just as comfortable as my hometown's.
• 你 跟 老板 一样 忙 吗？Nǐ gēn lǎobǎn yīyàng máng ma?Are you as busy as the boss is?

There is also a similar but more advanced usage of this pattern that uses 像 (xiàng).

See also

• Basic comparisons with "bi"
• Basic comparisons with "meiyou"
• Comparing

Sources and further reading

Books

• Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 55) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 244) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (pp. 108) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy

Websites

• Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: Usage of 跟 and 比