Comparisons with "buru"
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Keywords
不如 can be used to make comparisons in a similar way as the 比 structure. In its simplest form 不如 is used to convey that A is 'not as good as' B. Unlike the 比 structure, when used in this way, the adjective or verb can be omitted.
Contents
Simple form
Structure
A + 不如 + B
Examples
- 我 感觉看 电影 不如 看 电视剧。I think that watching movies isn't as good as watching TV dramas.
- 浙江 人 特别 会 做 生意，连 广东 人 都不如他们！People from Zhejiang can really do business, even people from Guangdong aren't as good as they are!
Complex form
When an adjective or verb is added to the structure it can then be used to mean A is not as 'adjective' as B, or A does not 'verb' as well as B:
Structure
A (verb) + 不如 + B + adjective/verb
Examples
- 我 不如 姚明 高。I am not as tall as Yao Ming.
- 城市 的 生活 环境 不如 乡下 舒服。The city life environment isn't as comfortable as the countryside.
- 他 用 Excel表格 不如 我 用 得 好。He doesn't use Excel sheets as well as I do.
- 这个 语法点 不如 前面的 那个 解释 得 清楚。The explanation of this grammar point isn't as clear as the explanation for the last one.
不如 as an adverb
Structure
不如 + Verb/[verb phrase]
When facing a choice, 不如 can also be used to mean "might as well" to emphasize the choice is the better of two options. When used like this, it is similar in meaning to 不妨.
Examples
- 既然 已经 做了 一半 了，你 不如 坚持 下去。
- 与其 空想，不如 马上 行动，做 出 点儿 成绩。
As in the last example sentence, 不如 often occurs in the 与其...不如 structure, meaning "rather than X... might as well Y".
See also
- Basic comparisons with "bu bi"
- Basic comparisons with "meiyou"
- Comparing Specifically with "xiang"
- Comparing
