Difference between revisions of "Comparisons with "buru""

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*那个 说法 <em>不如</em> 这个 说法 实用 。<span class="pinyin">Nàge shuōfǎ <em>bùrú</em> zhège shuōfǎ shíyòng.</span><span class="trans">This saying isn't as practical as that one.</span>
 
*那个 说法 <em>不如</em> 这个 说法 实用 。<span class="pinyin">Nàge shuōfǎ <em>bùrú</em> zhège shuōfǎ shíyòng.</span><span class="trans">This saying isn't as practical as that one.</span>
 
*他 穿 得 <em>不如</em> 你 好看 。<span class="pinyin">Tā chuān de <em>bùrú</em> nǐ hǎokàn.</span><span class="trans">He doesn't dress as well as you do.</span>
 
*他 穿 得 <em>不如</em> 你 好看 。<span class="pinyin">Tā chuān de <em>bùrú</em> nǐ hǎokàn.</span><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="pinyin">Wǒ dānxīn wǒ jiěshì <em>bùrú</em> nǐ qīngchǔ.</span><span class="trans">I'm afraid that I can't explain it as clearly as you.</span>
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*我 担心 我 解释 得 <em>不如</em> 你 清楚 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ dānxīn wǒ jiěshì de <em>bùrú</em> nǐ qīngchǔ.</span><span class="trans">I'm afraid that I can't explain it as clearly as you.</span>
 
*他 说 中文 <em>不如</em> 他 老婆 说 得 地道 。<span class="pinyin">Tā shuō Zhōngwén <em>bùrú</em> tā lǎopó shuō de dìdào.</span><span class="trans">He doesn't speak Chinese as authentically as his wife does.</span>
 
*他 说 中文 <em>不如</em> 他 老婆 说 得 地道 。<span class="pinyin">Tā shuō Zhōngwén <em>bùrú</em> tā lǎopó shuō de dìdào.</span><span class="trans">He doesn't speak Chinese as authentically as his wife does.</span>
 
*我 打字 <em>不如</em> 你 打 得 快 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ dǎ zì <em>bùrú</em> nǐ dǎ de kuài.</span><span class="trans">I don't type as fast as you do.</span>
 
*我 打字 <em>不如</em> 你 打 得 快 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ dǎ zì <em>bùrú</em> nǐ dǎ de kuài.</span><span class="trans">I don't type as fast as you do.</span>

Revision as of 10:40, 21 November 2020

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 我的 。Wǒ gē de chéngjī bùrú wǒ de.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 a movie isn't as good as reading the book.
  • 他 总是 觉得 自己 不如 别人 。Tā zǒng shì juéde zìjǐ bùrú biérén.He always thinks he's not as good as other people.

Advanced Patterns

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 。Nàge shuōfǎ bùrú zhège shuōfǎ shíyòng.This saying isn't as practical as that one.
  • 他 穿 得 不如 你 好看 。Tā chuān de 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 de bùrú nǐ qīngchǔ.I'm afraid that I can't explain it as clearly as you.
  • 他 说 中文 不如 他 老婆 说 得 地道 。Tā shuō Zhōngwén bùrú tā lǎopó shuō de dìdào.He doesn't speak Chinese as authentically as his wife does.
  • 我 打字 不如 你 打 得 快 。Wǒ dǎ zì bùrú nǐ dǎ de 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 。Zàijiā kàn diànshì duō wúliáo! Bùrú qù KTV ba. , might as well .
  • 我们 在 这里 等 也 是 浪费 时间 ,不如 先 去 吃 个 饭 吧 。Wǒmen zài zhèlǐ děng yěshì làngfèi shíjiān, bùrú xiān qù chī gè fàn ba.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 。Yǔqí kōngxiǎng, bùrú mǎshàng xíngdòng.Rather than fantasizing, you might as well take action right away.
  • 与其 天天 吵架 ,不如 离婚 。Yǔqí tiāntiān chǎojià, bùrú líhūn.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