Expressing "even more" with "geng"

To express "even more," (as in "even more expensive," "even more ridiculous," "even more badass"), you can use 更 (gèng). 更 (gèng) generally comes before adjectives.

Basic Usage

Structure

The pattern in Chinese is simple:

更 + adj.

Note that this pattern is not simply a way of adding "-er" to an adjective or a substitute for 比 (bǐ) comparisons. In each case, you're adding "even more" to an existing considerable amount, as in, "I'm already rich, but I want to be even richer."

Examples

• 上海 很 冷，但是 北京 更 冷。Shànghǎi hěn lěng, dànshì Běijīng gèng lěng.Shanghai is cold, but Beijing is colder.
• 吃 这么 多 糖，你 会 更 胖 的。It is implied that you are already fat, but if you continue to eat candy, you will become even fatter.Chī zhème duō táng, nǐ huì gèng pàng de.If you eat this much candy, you will get fatter.
• 孩子 都 想 要 更 多 的 玩具。 It is implied that kids already have some toys, but they still want even more.Háizi dōu xiǎng yào gèng duō de wánjù.All kids want even more toys.
• 不要 太 高兴，我们 还 有 更 多 的 工作。 It is implied that a lot of work has already been done but there is still even more work left.Bùyào tài gāoxìng, wǒmen hái yǒu gèng duō de gōngzuò.Don't get too excited; we still have more work to do.
• 希望 你 能 找到 一 个 更 好 的 男朋友。 It is implied that you broke up with a boyfriend, and hopefully you can find one even better.Xīwàng nǐ néng zhǎodào yīgè gèng hǎo de nán péngyou.I hope you can find an even better boyfriend.
• 我 想 租 一 个 更 便宜 的 房子。It is implied that the apartment now is already cheap, but I want to rent an even cheaper apartment.Wǒ xiǎng zū yīgè gèng piányi de fángzi.I want to rent a cheaper apartment.
• 明天，我 会 告诉 你 更 多 的 事情。Míngtiān, wǒ huì gàosu nǐ gèng duō de shìqíng.Tomorrow I will tell you more things.
• 我 喜欢 在 家 看书，因为 家里 更 安静。 Wǒ xǐhuan zài jiā kàn shū, yīnwéi gèng ānjìng.I like reading books at home because it's quieter.
• 你知道 哪 一 家 店更 便宜吗？ Nǐ zhīdào nǎ yī jiā diàn gèng piányi ma? Do you know which shop is cheaper ?
• 如果 你 不 说，我 会 更 生气。Rúguǒ nǐ bù shuō, wǒ huì gèng shēngqì.If you don't talk, I will get angrier.

Structure with 比

While 更 (gèng) is not a substitute for 比 (bǐ) (the classic comparison word), the two can be used together.

Structure

A 比 B + 更 + adj.

This expresses that "A is even more Adj. than B."

Examples

• 今天 比 昨天 更 热。 Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān gèng rè.Today is even hotter than yesterday.
• 这里 比 那里 更 吵。 Zhèlǐ bǐ nàlǐ gèng chǎo.It's even noisier here than there.
• 这 个 女孩子 比 那 个 更 漂亮。 Zhè gè nǚ háizi bǐ nàgè gèng piàoliang.This girl is prettier than that one.
• 啤酒 比 白酒 更 好喝。Píjiǔ bǐ báijiǔ gèng hǎo hē. Beer is better to drink than white liquor.
• 汉语 比 法语 更 难。Hànyǔ bǐ Fǎyǔ gèng nán. Chinese is more difficult than French.
• 中国 的 东西 比 美国 的 更 便宜。 Zhōngguó de dōngxī bǐ Měiguó de gèng piányi.Chinese things are cheaper than American things.
• 现在 的 工作 比 以前 的 更 有意思。Xiànzài de gōngzuò bǐ yǐqián de gèng yǒuyìsi. The work now is more interesting than the work before.
• 她 现在 的 男朋友 比 以前 的 更 有钱。 Tā xiànzài de nánpéngyou bǐ yǐqián de gèng yǒu qián.Her current boyfriend has more money than her previous boyfriend.
• 这 个 酒吧 比 那 个 更 吵。 Zhè gè jiǔbā bǐ nàgè gèng chǎo.This bar is noisier than that one.
• 住 在 美国 比 住 在 英国 更 无聊。Zhù zài Měiguó bǐ zhù zài Yīngguó gèng wúliáo. It is more boring to live in America than in England.

See also

• Expressing "More and More" with "yue… yue…"
• The "zui" superlative
• Basic comparisons with "bi"

Sources and further reading

Books

• 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (p. 231) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (p. 15) →buy
• Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (p. 54) →buy

Dictionaries

• 现代汉语词典（第5版） (p. 468) →buy