Basic comparisons with "bi"

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One of the most common ways to compare things in Chinese is to use 比(bǐ).

Basic patterns

Also known as: 比字句 (bǐzì jù).

To say that one thing is more adjective than another, the structure is:

Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + Adjective

This 比 (bǐ) sits between the two things being compared. The noun that's placed first is the one that comes out on top in the comparison. So in the sentence:

  • 小李 比 小张 高。Little Li is taller than Little Zhang.

小李 is taller. The same situation could be described as

  • 小张 比 小李 矮。

Examples

  • 她 比 我 大。She is bigger than me.
  • 我 比 你 胖。I'm fatter than you.
  • 美国 比 英国 大。America compared to England is bigger.
  • 这 条 路 比 那 条 长。This road compared to that road is longer.

Common Errors

Try not to make these mistakes:

The adjective used in the comparison should be positive, not negative.

  • 我 比 你 不 聪明 。
    • I compared to you not smarter. (incorrect)
  • 你 比 我 聪明
    • You are smarter than me. (correct)
  • 我 比 你 笨
    • I and dumber than you. (correct)

比 is not used with 一样. 比 is used when two things are not the same.

  • 我 比 你 一样 聪明 。
    • I compared to you the same smart. (incorrect)
  • 我 跟 你 一样 聪明 。
    • I am as smart as you. (correct)span>

Finally, to express "not as... as," use 没有, and to express "not more... than" use 不比 (the negative cousin of 比).

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites

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