Comparisons with "buru"

不如 (bùrú) 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.

Simple Pattern

Structure

A + 不如 + B

Examples

  • 我 哥 的 成绩 不如 我 的成绩好。Wǒ gē de chéngjī bùrú wǒ de chéngjī hǎo.My older brother's grades are not as good as mine.
  • 看 电影 不如 看 原著 。Kàn diànyǐng bùrú kàn yuánzhù.Watching the movie isn't as good as reading the book.
  • 他 总是 觉得 自己 不如 别人 。Tā zǒng shì juédé zìjǐ bùrú biérén.He always thinks he's not as good as other people.

Advanced Pattern

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 + 不如 + B + Adj.

A + Verb + 得 + 不如 + B + Adj.

A + Verb-Obj. + 不如 + B+ (Verb + 得) + Adj.

Examples

  • 这 件 裙子 不如 那 件 好看 。Zhè jiàn qúnzi bùrú nà jiàn hǎokàn.This dress doesn't look as good as that one.
  • 那个 说法 不如 这个 说法 实用 。Nàgè shuōfǎ bùrú zhège shuōfǎ shíyòng.This saying isn't as practical as that one.
  • 他 穿 得 不如 你 好看 。Tā chuān dé bùrú nǐ hǎokàn.He doesn't dress as well as you do.
  • 我 担心 我 解释 得 不如 你 清楚 。Wǒ dānxīn wǒ jiěshì dé bùrú nǐ qīngchǔ.I'm afraid that I can't explain as clearly as you do.
  • 他 说 中文 不如 他 老婆 说 得 地道 。Tā shuō Zhōngwén bùrú tā lǎopó shuō dé dìdào.He doesn't speak Chinese as authentically as his wife does.
  • 我 打字 不如 你 打 得 快 。Wǒ dǎzì bùrú nǐ dǎ dé kuài.I don't type as fast as you do.

不如 as an Adverb

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

  • 在 家 看 电视 多 无聊 ！不如 去 KTV 吧 。 , might as well .
  • 我们 在 这里 等 也 是 浪费 时间 ，不如 先 去 吃 个 饭 吧 。It's a waste of time for us to wait here.We might as well go out and eat something first.
  • 与其 空想，不如 马上 行动 。Rather than fantasizing, you might as well take action right away.
  • 与其 天天 吵架 ，不如 离婚 。Rather than fighting each and every day, you might as well break up.

As in the last two example sentences, 不如 often occurs in the 与其...不如 structure, meaning "rather than X... might as well Y."

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK5


Retrieved from "https://resources.allsetlearning.com/gramwiki/?title=Comparisons_with_%22buru%22&oldid=45671"