Comparisons with "buru"

Revision as of 08:43, 26 October 2011 by Jonathan.pope (talk | contribs)

不如 means "not as good as", and can be used to make comparisons in the same way as the 比 structure.

A 不如 B adjective

Here are some examples:

  • 城市 的 生活 环境 不如 乡下 舒服。
  • 红茶 的 口感 不如 铁观音 清爽。
  • 浙江 人 特别 会 做 生意,连 广东 人 都不如他们!

Unlike the 比 structure, the adjective in this structure can be omitted, as in the last example sentence, to give a feeling that A does not live up to, or is unequal to B.


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.

For example:

  • 既然 已经 做 了 一半,你 不如 坚持 下去。
  • 与其 空想,不如 马上 行动,做 出 点儿 成绩。

As above, 不如 often occurs in the 与其...不如 structure, meaning "rather than X (I) might as well Y".