Making Comparisons in Chinese
Learning to make comparisons is a fundamental skill for describing the world around you. Whether you're talking about prices, heights, or your language skills, you'll need to know how to say something is bigger, smaller, better, or worse than something else. In this guide, we will explore the key structures for making comparisons in Mandarin Chinese: 比 (bǐ) for the comparative, 没有 (méiyǒu) for the negative comparison, 跟...一样 (gēn...yīyàng) for equality, 最 (zuì) for the superlative, and 越来越 (yuèláiyuè) for expressing progressive change.
The Basic Comparative: 比 (bǐ)
The most common way to say "A is more [adjective] than B" is by using the pattern: A + 比 + B + Adjective. The adjective in this structure already carries the meaning of "more," so you never use 很 (hěn) or 非常 (fēicháng) before the adjective.
这本书比那本书贵。
Zhè běn shū bǐ nà běn shū guì.
This book is more expensive than that book.
我哥哥比我高。
Wǒ gēge bǐ wǒ gāo.
My older brother is taller than me.
今天比昨天热。
Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān rè.
Today is hotter than yesterday.
Common Pitfall: Do not use degree adverbs like 很 (hěn), 非常 (fēicháng), or 太 (tài) in the basic 比 structure. The comparison is already implied. Saying *我比他很高 (Wǒ bǐ tā hěn gāo) is incorrect. The correct sentence is 我比他高 (Wǒ bǐ tā gāo).
You can, however, specify the degree of the difference by adding a phrase before the adjective. Common degree phrases include 一点 (yīdiǎnr, a little) and 得多 (de duō, much more).
这家餐厅比那家好吃得多。
Zhè jiā cāntīng bǐ nà jiā hǎochī de duō.
This restaurant is much more delicious than that one.
他比我早一点到。
Tā bǐ wǒ zǎo yīdiǎnr dào.
He arrived a little earlier than me.
Negative Comparison: 没有 (méiyǒu)
To say "A is not as [adjective] as B," you use the structure: A + 没有 + B + Adjective. This is equivalent to saying "A lacks the quality of B." The adjective used is almost always a positive one.
北京没有上海大。
Běijīng méiyǒu Shànghǎi dà.
Beijing is not as big as Shanghai.
这部电影没有那部电影好看。
Zhè bù diànyǐng méiyǒu nà bù diànyǐng hǎokàn.
This movie is not as good-looking as that movie.
Tip: You can think of 没有 (méiyǒu) in this context as "does not have the [adjective]-ness of." So, 我没有他高 (Wǒ méiyǒu tā gāo) literally means "I do not have his tallness."
Expressing Equality: 跟...一样 (gēn...yīyàng)
When two things are the same in some aspect, use the pattern: A + 跟 + B + 一样 + (Adjective). The adjective is optional. If you omit it, it simply means "A is the same as B." If you include an adjective, it means "A is as [adjective] as B."
我的车跟他的车一样。
Wǒ de chē gēn tā de chē yīyàng.
My car is the same as his car.
她跟她妈妈一样高。
Tā gēn tā māma yīyàng gāo.
She is as tall as her mother.
To make this structure negative and say "A is not the same as B" or "A is not as [adjective] as B," you simply add 不 (bù) before 一样.
中文的语法跟英文的语法不一样。
Zhōngwén de yǔfǎ gēn Yīngwén de yǔfǎ bù yīyàng.
Chinese grammar is not the same as English grammar.
The Superlative: 最 (zuì)
The adverb 最 (zuì) is used to express the superlative degree, meaning "the most." Its structure is simple: Subject + 最 + Adjective. It is often used with a context that defines the group being compared, such as "in the class" or "of all."
他是我们班最高的学生。
Tā shì wǒmen bān zuì gāo de xuéshēng.
He is the tallest student in our class.
我觉得春天是最美的季节。
Wǒ juéde chūntiān shì zuì měi de jìjié.
I think spring is the most beautiful season.
Tip: The 的 (de) after 最 + Adjective is often used when the adjective modifies a noun (e.g., 最美的季节). If the adjective stands alone (e.g., 这个最美, "this one is the most beautiful"), 的 is usually omitted.
Progressive Change: 越来越 (yuèláiyuè)
This handy structure is used to describe a gradual change over time, meaning "more and more." The pattern is: Subject + 越来越 + Adjective. The subject itself is becoming increasingly characterized by the adjective.
天气越来越冷。
Tiānqì yuèláiyuè lěng.
The weather is getting colder and colder.
我的中文越来越好了。
Wǒ de Zhōngwén yuèláiyuè hǎo le.
My Chinese is getting better and better.
Common Pitfall: Remember that 越来越 is only for changes that are increasing in degree. You cannot use it to say something is getting "less" cold. For that, you would need a different structure, such as 没那么冷了 (méi nàme lěng le, "not that cold anymore").
Practice
Try to translate the following sentences into Chinese using the structures you've learned.
- My apartment is smaller than your apartment.
- Coffee is not as expensive as tea here.
- Her pronunciation is the same as the teacher's.
- This is the most interesting book I've ever read.
- The children are getting taller and taller.
Answers (try yourself first!):
- 我的公寓比你的公寓小。(Wǒ de gōngyù bǐ nǐ de gōngyù xiǎo.)
- 这里的咖啡没有茶贵。(Zhèlǐ de kāfēi méiyǒu chá guì.)
- 她的发音跟老师的一样。(Tā de fāyīn gēn lǎoshī de yīyàng.)
- 这是我看过的最有意思的书。(Zhè shì wǒ kànguò de zuì yǒuyìsi de shū.)
- 孩子们越来越高了。(Háizimen yuèláiyuè gāo le.)
Summary
Mastering these comparison structures will greatly enhance your ability to express nuanced thoughts in Chinese. Here are the key takeaways:
- Use A 比 B + Adj. for "A is more [adj.] than B."
- Use A 没有 B + Adj. for "A is not as [adj.] as B."
- Use A 跟 B 一样 (Adj.) for "A is the same as B / as [adj.] as B."
- Use 最 + Adj. to form the superlative, "the most [adj.]."
- Use 越来越 + Adj. to describe a progressive change, "more and more [adj.]."
Remember to practice these patterns regularly by comparing things in your daily life. The more you use them, the more natural they will become!