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]] meaning "comparatively" or "rather."
  
== Structure ==
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== Used with Adjectives ==
  
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.
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=== Structure ===
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The adverb 比较 can be used to express "quite," "rather," or "relatively."
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<div class="jiegou">
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Subj. + 比较 + Adj.
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</div>
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=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
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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>
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*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>
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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>
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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>
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*你 上班 坐 地铁 <em>比较</em> 方便 吧 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ shàngbān zuò dìtiě <em>bǐjiào</em> fāngbiàn ba?</span><span class="trans">To get to work, it's quite convenient for you to take the subway, right?</span>
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</div>
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== Used with Verbs ==
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比较 can also be used with [[psychological verb]]s.
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=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 比较 + Adj. / Psychological Verb
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Subj. + 比较 + [Verb Phrase]
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Examples ==
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=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*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 rather easier.</span>
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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 quite hate it when men use foul language.</span>
*我 觉得 这个 价格 <em>比较</em> 合理 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ juéde zhège jiàgé <em>bǐjiào</em> hélǐ.</span><span class="trans">I think this price is rather reasonable.</span>
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*<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"><em>bǐjiào</em> xǐhuan yòng Gmail háishì Hotmail?</span><span class="trans">Do you prefer to use Gmail or Hotmail?</span>
*我 上班 坐 地铁 <em>比较</em> 方便 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ shàngbān zuò dìtiě <em>bǐjiào</em> fāngbiàn.</span><span class="trans">It's rather convenient for me to take the metro to work.</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>
*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 pressure in big cities are rather more.</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>
*我 家 离 市中心 <em>比较</em> 。<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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*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>
*这 件 衬衫 大小 <em>比较</em> 合适 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn chènshān dàxiǎo <em>bǐjiào</em> héshì.</span><span class="trans">The size of this shirt is rather suitable.</span>
 
*换个 话题 吧 ,这个 话题 <em>比较</em> 敏感 。<span class="pinyin">Huàn gè huàtí ba, zhège huàtí <em>bǐjiào</em> mǐngǎn.</span><span class="trans">Let's change the subject. This one is rather sensitive.</span>
 
*现在 的 年轻 人 <em>比较</em> 喜欢 用 App 看 电视 。<span class="pinyin">Xiànzài de niánqīng rén <em>bǐjiào</em> xǐhuan yòng App kàn diànshì.</span><span class="trans">Nowadays young people prefer to use App to watch TV.</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>
 
*中国 政府 <em>比较</em> 关注 农村 的 发展 。<span class="pinyin">Zhōngguó zhèngfǔ <em>bǐjiào</em> guānzhù nóngcūn de fāzhǎn.</span><span class="trans">Chinese government cares a lot about the development of the rural area.</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (pp. 49-50) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792 →buy]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1|49-50}}
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|比较|B1|比较 + Adj.|<em>比较</em> 聪明 。|grammar point|ASG72HKP}}
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{{HSK|HSK3}}
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{{Basic Grammar|比较|B1|Subj. + 比较 + Adj.|这个 问题 <em>比较</em> 简单 。|grammar point|ASG72HKP}}
 
{{Rel char|比}}
 
{{Rel char|比}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing "a bit too"}}   
 
{{Similar|Expressing "a bit too"}}   

Latest revision as of 08:37, 17 April 2019

The word 比较 (bǐjiào) can be a verb which means "to compare." But it can also be an adverb meaning "comparatively" or "rather."

Used with Adjectives

Structure

The adverb 比较 can be used to express "quite," "rather," or "relatively."

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 吧 ?Nǐ shàngbān zuò dìtiě bǐjiào fāngbiàn ba?To get to work, it's quite convenient for you to take the subway, right?

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 quite hate it when men use foul language.
  • 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