Basic comparisons with "bi"

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。

小李 is taller. The same situation could be described as

• 小张 比 小李 矮。

Examples

• 她 比 我 大。
• 我 比 你 胖。
• 美国 比 英国 大。
• 这 条 路 比 那 条 长。

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 。
• 你 比 我 聪明
• 我 比 你 笨

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

• 我 比 你 一样 聪明 。
• 我 跟 你 一样 聪明 。

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

• Expressing "much more" in comparisons
• Basic comparisons with "bu bi"
• Basic comparisons with "meiyou"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 61-3) →buy
• Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 53) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (pp. 65-6) →buy

Websites

• East Asia Student: Simple comparisons in Mandarin Chinese