Comparisons with 比
Making comparisons with 比
I can compare two things using 比 and 没有
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
北京比上海大。
Beijing is bigger than Shanghai.
咖啡比茶贵一点。
Coffee is a little more expensive than tea.
他没有我高。
He is not as tall as me.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
比较句 — Comparisons with 比
Use 比 (bǐ) to compare two things. The structure is different from English — the comparison marker comes before the adjective.
Structure: A + 比 + B + Adjective
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 他比我高。 | Tā bǐ wǒ gāo. | He is taller than me. |
| 今天比昨天冷。 | Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān lěng. | Today is colder than yesterday. |
Key rule: Do NOT use 很 with 比. Say 他比我高, NOT *他比我很高.
Negation: 没有 replaces 比: A + 没有 + B + Adj. 他没有我高 (He's not as tall as me).
Degree: Add 多了, 一点: 他比我高多了 (much taller), 他比我高一点 (a little taller).
Common Error Patterns
Used 很 inside a 比 comparison (*他比我很高)
Never use 很 with 比. Say 他比我高, not *他比我很高.
Placed adjective before 比 instead of after
Structure is A + 比 + B + Adj. The adjective always comes last.
北京比上海大。
Beijing is bigger than Shanghai.
A(北京) + 比 + B(上海) + Adj(大). The adjective comes last, after both compared items.
咖啡比茶贵一点。
Coffee is a little more expensive than tea.
一点 (yìdiǎn) after the adjective adds 'a little bit' — 贵一点 = a little more expensive.
他没有我高。
He is not as tall as me.
Negative comparison uses 没有 instead of 比: A + 没有 + B + Adj = 'A is not as Adj as B'.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises