Expressing comparable degree with "you"

有 (yǒu), besides just meaning "to have," can also be used in comparisons. It's what you use instead of 比 (bǐ) if something is "as [Adj.] as" something else.

Using 有 in a Question

The structure is very straightforward. It literally means "A has B's [Adj.]." The meaning is "A is as [Adj.] as B." This pattern is often used in questions.

Structure

A + 有 + B + Adj. + 吗?

This form is often used with 那么, which in this case means "as much." And it indicates that B is already very [Adj.]. When B is absent, 那么 mean "so" or "that".

A + 有(+ B)+ 那么 + Adj. + 吗?

Examples

  • 我 帅 吗 ?yǒu wǒ shuài ma?Is he as handsome as me?
  • 泰国 日本 好玩 吗 ?Tàiguó yǒu Rìběn hǎowán ma?Is Thailand as fun as Japan?
  • 你 去 过 的 地方 我 多 吗 ?Nǐ qù guo de dìfang yǒu wǒ duō ma?Have you been to as many places as I have?
  • 你 的 工资 那么 高 吗 ?Nǐ de gōngzī yǒu nàme gāo ma?Is your salary that high?
  • 那么 厉害 吗 ?yǒu nàme lìhai ma?Is he that difficult to deal with?

Using 有 in a Statement

Notice that all these example sentences are questions. This form can also be used in simple statements. Note that 描述人身高、体重或空间大小时,用数字加相应的计量单位,如"米、公斤、平方米"即可,不用加"高、重、大"。

Structure

Used in a question:

Subj. + 有 + 多 + 大 / 高 / 深 / 宽 / 长 / 重 ?

Used in a Statement:

Subj. + 有 + Number + Unit + 高 / 深 / 宽 / 长

如果不确定具体的number,可以用参照物B来代替:

A + 有 + B + 这么 / 那么 + 高 / 深 / 宽 / 长

Examples

  • 一 米 九 。yǒu yī mǐ jiǔ.His height is 1.9 meter.
  • 你 家 多 大 ? Nǐ jiā yǒu duō dà ?How big is your house?
  • 我 家 一百 三十 平 。Wǒ jiā yǒu yī bǎi sānshí píng.My house is 130 square meters.
  • 这 条 河 多 长 ?Zhè tiáo hé yǒu duō cháng?How long is this river?
  • 这 条 河 五 百 多 公里(长)。Zhè tiáo hé yǒu wǔ bǎi duō gōnglǐ (cháng).This river is five hundred kilometers long.
  • 多 高 ?yǒu duō gāo?How tall is he?
  • 他 那么 爸爸 高 。yǒu tā bàba nàme gāo.He is already as tall as his father.
  • 这 个 门 多 宽 ?Zhège mén yǒu duō kuān?How wide is the door?
  • 这 个 门 只 我 的 肩膀 这么 宽 。Zhè gè mén zhī yǒu wǒ de jiānbǎng zhème kuān.This door is only my shoulder's wide.
  • 多 重 ? yǒu duō zhòng?How much does he weigh?
  • 这个 孩子 才 十 岁,已经 一百 五十 斤 了 。Zhège háizi cái shí suì, yǐjīng yǒu yī bǎi wǔshí jīn le.This kid is only ten, but he's already 150 kilograms.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books