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

• 这 两个 银行 哪 个 更 近 ？ Zhè liǎngge yínháng nǎ ge gèng jìn? These two banks, which one is closer?
• 我 想 找 一 个 更 有钱 的 男朋友。 It is implied that my boyfriend now is already rich, but I want to find an even richer boyfriend.Wǒ xiǎng zhǎo yīgè gèng yǒuqián de nánpéngyou. I want to find a richer boyfriend.
• 我 喜欢 在 网上 买书，因为 更 便宜。 Wǒ xǐhuan zài wǎngshàng mǎi shū, yīnwéi gèng piányi. I like buying books online because it's cheaper.
• 不要 太 高兴，我们 还 有 更 多 的 工作 要 做。 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.
• 结婚 以后， 她 变 得 更 漂亮 了。Jiéhūn yǐhòu, tā biàn de gèng piàoliang le. She's becoming more beautiful after she got married.

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

• 北京 的 房子 比 上海 更 贵。 Běijīng de fángzi bǐShànghǎigèng guì.THe house in Beijing is even more expensive than those in Shanghai.
• 春节 比中秋节更 热闹。 Chūnjiě bǐZhōngqiūjiégèng rènao.Spring Festival is even more boisterous than Mid-autumn Festival?
• 汉语 语法 比 声调 更 难。Hànyǔ yǔfǎ bǐ shēngdiào gèng nán. Chinese grammar is more difficult than tones.
• 他 现在 的 女朋友 比 以前 的 更 漂亮。 Tā xiànzài de nǚpéngyou bǐ yǐqián de gèng piàoliang.His current girlfriend is more beautiful than his previous girlfriend.
• 中国 的 高铁 比 飞机 更 方便。 Zhōngguó de gāotiě bǐ fēijī gèng fāngbiàn.Chinese high-speed train is more convenient than airplanes.

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