Difference between revisions of "Expressing "rather" with "bijiao""

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It's rather nice to be able to read an article on how to use 比较 (bǐjiào) to mean "rather." And here it is!
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The word 比较 (bǐjiào) can be a verb which means "to compare." But it can also be an [[adverb]] (no "-ly" required!) meaning "comparatively" or "rather."
  
 
== Used with Adjectives ==
 
== Used with Adjectives ==
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*这个 问题 <em>比较</em> 简单 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège wèntí <em>bǐjiào</em> jiǎndān.</span><span class="trans">This question is quite easy.</span>
 
*这个 问题 <em>比较</em> 简单 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège wèntí <em>bǐjiào</em> jiǎndān.</span><span class="trans">This question is quite easy.</span>
 
*我 觉得 这个 价格 <em>比较</em> 贵 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ juéde zhège jiàgé <em>bǐjiào</em> guì.</span><span class="trans">I think this price is rather expensive.</span>
 
*我 觉得 这个 价格 <em>比较</em> 贵 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ juéde zhège jiàgé <em>bǐjiào</em> guì.</span><span class="trans">I think this price is rather expensive.</span>
*我 家 离 市中心 <em>比较</em> 近 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ jiā lí shìzhōngxīn <em>bǐjiào</em> jìn.</span><span class="trans">My place is rather close to downtown.</span>
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*我 家 离 市中心 <em>比较</em> 近 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ jiā lí shìzhōngxīn <em>bǐjiào</em> jìn.</span><span class="trans">My place is relatively close to downtown.</span>
*大 城市 的 工作 压力 <em>比较</em> 大 。<span class="pinyin">Dà chéngshì de gōngzuò yālì <em>bǐjiào</em> dà.</span><span class="trans">Working in big cities is creates quite a lot of pressure.</span>
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*大 城市 的 工作 压力 <em>比较</em> 大 。<span class="pinyin">Dà chéngshì de gōngzuò yālì <em>bǐjiào</em> dà.</span><span class="trans">Jobs in big cities have quite a lot of pressure.</span>
*你 上班 坐 地铁 <em>比较</em> 方便 还是 骑车 <em>比较</em> 方便 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ shàngbān zuò dìtiě <em>bǐjiào</em> fāngbiàn háishì qíchē <em>bǐjiào</em> fāngbiàn?</span><span class="trans">Is it more convenient for you to take the metro to work or to ride a bike?</span>
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*你 上班 坐 地铁 <em>比较</em> 方便 还是 骑车 <em>比较</em> 方便 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ shàngbān zuò dìtiě <em>bǐjiào</em> fāngbiàn háishì qíchē <em>bǐjiào</em> fāngbiàn?</span><span class="trans">To get to work, is it more convenient for you to take the metro or to ride a bike?</span>
  
 
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== Used with Verbs ==
 
== Used with Verbs ==
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比较 can also be used with [[psychological verb]]s.
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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*我 <em>比较</em> 讨厌 男人 说 脏话 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>bǐjiào</em> tǎoyàn nánrén shuō zānghuà.</span><span class="trans">I hate it when men say dirty words.</span>
 
*我 <em>比较</em> 讨厌 男人 说 脏话 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>bǐjiào</em> tǎoyàn nánrén shuō zānghuà.</span><span class="trans">I hate it when men say dirty words.</span>
*你 <em>比较</em> 喜欢 用 gmail 还是 hotmail ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>bǐjiào</em> xǐhuan yòng gmail háishì hotmail?</span><span class="trans">Do you prefer to use Gmail or hotmail?</span>
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*你 <em>比较</em> 喜欢 用 gmail 还是 hotmail ?<span class="expl">Note that for this phrase, the translation is a totally different verb.</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>bǐjiào</em> xǐhuan yòng Gmail háishì Hotmail?</span><span class="trans">Do you prefer to use Gmail or Hotmail?</span>
*我 父母 <em>比较</em> 反对 我 找 外国 男朋友 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ fùmǔ <em>bǐjiào</em> fǎnduì wǒ zhǎo wàiguó nánpéngyou.</span><span class="trans">My parents quite object to the fact that I'm with a foreign boyfriend.</span>
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*我 父母 <em>比较</em> 反对 我 找 外国 男朋友 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ fùmǔ <em>bǐjiào</em> fǎnduì wǒ zhǎo wàiguó nánpéngyou.</span><span class="trans">My parents rather object to me seeking a foreign boyfriend.</span>
*民众 <em>比较</em> 支持 新 的 就业 政策 。<span class="pinyin">Mínzhòng <em>bǐjiào</em> zhīchí xīn de jiùyè zhèngcè.</span><span class="trans">The public comparatively supports the new employment policy.</span>
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*民众 <em>比较</em> 支持 新 的 就业 政策 。<span class="pinyin">Mínzhòng <em>bǐjiào</em> zhīchí xīn de jiùyè zhèngcè.</span><span class="trans">The public rather supports the new employment policy.</span>
*老板 通常 <em>比较</em> 关注 结果 ,不是 过程 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn tōngcháng <em>bǐjiào</em> guānzhù jiéguǒ, bù shì guòchéng.</span><span class="trans">The boss usually pays more attention on the results instead of the process.</span>
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*老板 通常 <em>比较</em> 关注 结果 ,不是 过程 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn tōngcháng <em>bǐjiào</em> guānzhù jiéguǒ, bù shì guòchéng.</span><span class="trans">The boss usually pays more attention to results and not process.</span>
  
 
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Revision as of 09:54, 20 September 2018

The word 比较 (bǐjiào) can be a verb which means "to compare." But it can also be an adverb (no "-ly" required!) meaning "comparatively" or "rather."

Used with Adjectives

Structure

The adverb 比较 can be used to express "quite," "rather," or "relatively." It's a way of comparing one thing with a general idea instead of comparing two concrete things.

Subj. + 比较 + Adj.

Examples

  • 这个 问题 比较 简单 。Zhège wèntí bǐjiào jiǎndān.This question is quite easy.
  • 我 觉得 这个 价格 比较 贵 。Wǒ juéde zhège jiàgé bǐjiào guì.I think this price is rather expensive.
  • 我 家 离 市中心 比较 近 。Wǒ jiā lí shìzhōngxīn bǐjiào jìn.My place is relatively close to downtown.
  • 大 城市 的 工作 压力 比较 大 。Dà chéngshì de gōngzuò yālì bǐjiào dà.Jobs in big cities have quite a lot of pressure.
  • 你 上班 坐 地铁 比较 方便 还是 骑车 比较 方便 ?Nǐ shàngbān zuò dìtiě bǐjiào fāngbiàn háishì qíchē bǐjiào fāngbiàn?To get to work, is it more convenient for you to take the metro or to ride a bike?

Used with Verbs

比较 can also be used with psychological verbs.

Structure

Subj. + 比较 + [Verb Phrase]

Examples

  • 比较 讨厌 男人 说 脏话 。bǐjiào tǎoyàn nánrén shuō zānghuà.I hate it when men say dirty words.
  • 比较 喜欢 用 gmail 还是 hotmail ?Note that for this phrase, the translation is a totally different verb.bǐjiào xǐhuan yòng Gmail háishì Hotmail?Do you prefer to use Gmail or Hotmail?
  • 我 父母 比较 反对 我 找 外国 男朋友 。Wǒ fùmǔ bǐjiào fǎnduì wǒ zhǎo wàiguó nánpéngyou.My parents rather object to me seeking a foreign boyfriend.
  • 民众 比较 支持 新 的 就业 政策 。Mínzhòng bǐjiào zhīchí xīn de jiùyè zhèngcè.The public rather supports the new employment policy.
  • 老板 通常 比较 关注 结果 ,不是 过程 。Lǎobǎn tōngcháng bǐjiào guānzhù jiéguǒ, bù shì guòchéng.The boss usually pays more attention to results and not process.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books