Using 比 (bǐ) for Comparison in Chinese
Using 比 (bǐ) for Comparison in ChineseThere are several ways to express comparison in Chinese. Among them, 比 (bǐ) is one of the most frequently used to compare two things or two persons.
Structure: Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + Adjective / Adjective Phrase
Meaning: Noun 1 is more [adjective] than Noun 2
Examples:
瑪麗比珍妮漂亮。
玛丽比珍妮漂亮。
Mǎlì bǐ zhēnnī piàoliang.
Mary is more beautiful than Jenny.
我弟弟比我妹妹小三歲。
我弟弟比我妹妹小三岁。
Wǒ dìdì bǐ wǒ mèimei xiǎosān suì.
My brother is three years younger than my sister.
When using 比 (bǐ) for comparison, leave out the degree adverbs, like 很 (hěn), 真 (zhēn), 非常 (fēi cháng), etc. Read: How to Use Adjectives in Basic Grammar Chinese Sentence.
When you want to describe that one thing is much more [adjective] than the other one, add 多了 (duō le) or 很多 (hěn duō) behind the adjective.
Structure: Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + Adjective + 多了 / 很多
Meaning: Noun 1 is much more [adjective] than Noun 2
Example:
冬天比秋天冷很多。
冬天比秋天冷很多。
Dōngtiān bǐ qiūtiān lěng hěnduō.
Winter is much colder than autumn.
Oppositely, if you want to express that one thing is a little more [adjective] than the other one, add 一點 [一点] (yī diǎn) behind the adjective.
Structure: Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + Adjective + 一點 [一点]
Meaning: Noun 1 is a little more [adjective] than Noun 2
Example:
你家比我家大一點。
你家比我家大一点。
Nǐ jiā bǐ wǒjiā dà yīdiǎn.
Your house is a little bigger than my house.
更 (gèng), which literally translated as more, is used to express that noun 1 is even more [adjective] than noun 2, even though the noun 2 is already [adjective].
Structure: Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + 更 + Adjective
Meaning: Noun 2 is already [adjective]. However, Noun 1 is even more [adjective] than Noun 2
Example:
這棵樹比那棵樹更高。
这棵树比那棵树更高。
Zhè kē shù bǐ nà kē shù gèng gāo.
This tree is taller than the tree.
For expressing negation in comparison, we add 不 (bù) before 比 (bǐ), not before the adjectives. Read: Understanding No or Not in Chinese.
Structure: Noun 1 + 不 + 比 + Noun 2 + Adjective / Adjective Phrase
Meaning: Noun 1 is not more [adjective] than Noun 2
Example:
這道菜不比之前的好吃。
这道菜不比之前的好吃。
Zhè dào cài bùbǐ zhīqián de hào chī.
This dish is not tastier than the previous one.
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