Difference between revisions of "Comparisons with "buru""

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不如 (bùrú) can be used to make comparisons in a similar way as the [[Basic comparisons with "bi"|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.
 
不如 (bùrú) can be used to make comparisons in a similar way as the [[Basic comparisons with "bi"|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 form==
+
== Simple Pattern ==
 +
 
 +
=== Structure ===
  
===Structure===
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
A + 不如 + B  
 
A + 不如 + B  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
===Examples===  
+
=== Examples ===  
 +
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 我 感觉看 电影 <em>不如</em> 看 电视剧。<span class="trans">I think that watching movies isn't as good as watching TV dramas.</span>
+
*我 哥 的 成绩 <em>不如</em> 我 。<span class="trans">My elder brother's .</span>
* 浙江 人 特别 会 做 生意,连 广东 人 都<em>不如</em>他们!<span class="trans">People from Zhejiang can really do business, even people from Guangdong aren't as good as they are!</span>
+
*看 电影 <em>不如</em> 看 原著 。<span class="trans">Watching the movie isn't as good as reading the book.</span>
 +
*他 总是 觉得 自己 <em>不如</em> 别人 。<span class="trans">He always thinks he's not as good as other people.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
==Complex form==
+
== 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:
 
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===
+
=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
A (Verb) + 不如 + B + Adj. / Verb
+
A + 不如 + B + Adj.  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
===Examples===
+
<div class="jiegou">
 +
A + Verb + 得 + 不如 + B + Adj.
 +
</div>
  
<div class="liju">
+
<div class="jiegou">
* 我 <em>不如</em> 姚明 高。<span class="trans">I am not as tall as Yao Ming.</span>
+
A + Verb-Obj. + 不如 + B+ (Verb + ) + Adj.  
* 城市 的 生活 环境 <em>不如</em> 乡下 舒服。<span class="trans">The city life environment  isn't as comfortable as the countryside.</span>
 
* 他 用 Excel表格 <em>不如</em> 我 用 得 好。<span class="trans">He doesn't use Excel sheets as well as I do.</span>
 
* 这个 语法点 <em>不如</em>  前面的 那个 解释 清楚。<span class="trans">The explanation of this grammar point isn't as clear as the explanation for the last one.</span>
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
==不如 as an adverb==
+
=== Examples ===
  
===Structure===
+
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
*这 件 裙子 <em>不如</em> 那 件 好看 。<span class="trans">This dress doesn't look as good as that one.</span>
 +
*他 穿 得 <em>不如</em> 你 好看 。<span class="trans">He doesn't dress as well as you do.</span>
 +
*我 担心 我 解释 得 <em>不如</em> 你 清楚 。<span class="trans">I'm afraid that I can't explain as clearly as you do.</span>
 +
*他 说 中文 <em>不如</em> 他 老婆 说 得 好 。<span class="trans">He doesn't speak Chinese as well as his wife does.</span>
 +
*他 <em>不如</em> 他 老婆 说 得 好 。<span class="trans">He doesn't speak Chinese as well as his wife does.</span>
  
<div class="jiegou">
 
不如 + Verb / [Verb Phrase]
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
 +
 +
== 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.
 
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===
+
=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 既然 已经 做了 一半 了,你 <em>不如</em> 坚持 下去。<span class="trans">You've already done half of it, might as well keep going.</span>
+
*你们 在一起 总是 吵架 ,<em>不如</em> 分手 吧 。<span class="trans">You always fight when you're together. You might as well break up.</span>
* 与其 空想,<em>不如</em> 马上 行动,做 出 点儿 成绩。<span class="trans">Rather than fantasizing, might as well take action right away. Achieve something.</span>
+
*<em>不如</em> 。<span class="trans"> , might as well .</span>
 +
*<em>不如</em> 。<span class="trans"> , might as well .</span>
 +
*<em>不如</em> 。<span class="trans"> , might as well .</span>
 +
*与其 空想,<em>不如</em> 马上 行动 。<span class="trans">Rather than fantasizing, you might as well take action right away.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  

Revision as of 02:30, 30 August 2017

不如 (bùrú) can be used to make comparisons in a similar way as the 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 。My elder brother's .
  • 看 电影 不如 看 原著 。Watching the movie isn't as good as reading the book.
  • 他 总是 觉得 自己 不如 别人 。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 。This dress doesn't look as good as that one.
  • 他 穿 得 不如 你 好看 。He doesn't dress as well as you do.
  • 我 担心 我 解释 得 不如 你 清楚 。I'm afraid that I can't explain as clearly as you do.
  • 他 说 中文 不如 他 老婆 说 得 好 。He doesn't speak Chinese as well as his wife does.
  • 不如 他 老婆 说 得 好 。He doesn't speak Chinese as well as his wife does.

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

  • 你们 在一起 总是 吵架 ,不如 分手 吧 。You always fight when you're together. You might as well break up.
  • 不如 , might as well .
  • 不如 , might as well .
  • 不如 , might as well .
  • 与其 空想,不如 马上 行动 。Rather than fantasizing, you might as well take action right away.

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

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK5