Expressing "multiples" with "bei"

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The word 倍 (bèi) is used to express the idea of multiples, as in "3 times as many" or "5 times as much." Its usage can be a little tricky (different from English), so pay close attention to the pattern below.

Comparing for Quantity

Structure

A + 是 + B + 的 + Number + 倍

Examples

  • 他 现在 的 工资 两 年 前 的 四 Tā xiànzài de gōngzī shì liǎng nián qián de sì bèi. His current salary is four times what it was two years ago.
  • 公司 现在 的 规模 十 年 前 的 五 Gōngsī xiànzài de guīmó shì shí nián qián de wǔ bèi.The company's current scope is five times what it was 10 years ago.
  • 今年 的 产量 去年 的 两 Jīnnián de chǎnliàng shì qùnián de liǎng bèi.This year's output is twice as big as last year.

The following sentence pattern does not include cardinal numbers, and A is B multiplied with (N+1).

A + 比 + B + 多/扩大 / 增加 + 了 + Number + 倍

A few examples:

  • 他 现在 的 工资 两 年 前 了 三 Tā xiànzài de gōngzī liǎng nián qián duō le sān bèi.His salary is four times higher now than what it was two years ago.
  • 公司 现在 的 规模 十 年 前 扩大 了 四 Gōngsī xiànzài de guīmó shí nián qián kuòdà le sì bèi.The company's current scope is five times what it was 10 years ago.
  • 今年 的 产量 去年 增加 了 一 Jīnnián de chǎnliàng qùnián zēngjiā le yī bèi.This year's production is doubled than last year's.

Comparing for Degree

This type of adjective has limits. Common examples include: 大 big、贵 expensive 、高 tall、长 long. Adjectives used to measure also include: 宽度 width, 厚度 thickness, 重量 heaviness, 速度 speed, etc. In Chinese, it is not common to use "lesser" adjectives in comparisons. For example, small, cheap, short, etc., are such adjectives.

Structure

A + 比 + B + Adj. + Number + 倍

Examples

  • 我 家 客厅 你 家 客厅 Wǒ jiā kètīng nǐ jiā kètīng bèi.My house's living room is double the size of your house's living room.
  • 他 的 车 你 的 车 Tā de chē nǐ de chē guì shí bèi.His car is ten times more expensive than your car.
  • 这个 15 岁 的 男孩 一般 的 孩子 Zhège 15 suì de nánhái yībān de háizi zhòngbèi.This fifteen-year-old kid weighs double what a normal kid at his age should weigh.
  • 你 的 速度 我们 Nǐ de sùdù wǒmen kuài liǎng bèi.Your speed is twice as fast as our speed.
  • 中国 人口 美国 人口 Zhōngguó rénkǒu Měiguó rénkǒu duōbèi.China's population is four times bigger than America's.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books