Comparisons
Comparisons: hơn, nhất, bằng
Can make comparisons
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Hà Nội lạnh hơn Sài Gòn.
Hanoi is colder than Saigon.
Phở là món ăn ngon nhất!
Pho is the most delicious dish!
Cà phê không đắt bằng trà.
Coffee is not as expensive as tea.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
So sánh — Comparisons
Vietnamese comparisons use simple words after adjectives — no changing the adjective form!
| Type | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Comparative | A + adj + hơn + B | Phở ngon hơn bún. (Pho is more delicious than bun.) |
| Superlative | A + adj + nhất | Phở ngon nhất! (Pho is the most delicious!) |
| Equal | A + adj + bằng B | Anh cao bằng em. (He is as tall as her.) |
| Less | A + không + adj + bằng B | Bún không ngon bằng phở. (Bun is not as delicious as pho.) |
Common Error Patterns
Modified the adjective for comparison
Vietnamese adjectives never change. Just add hơn (more), nhất (most), bằng (equal) after the unchanged adjective.
Hà Nội lạnh hơn Sài Gòn.
Hanoi is colder than Saigon.
lạnh hơn = colder (cold + more). The adjective lạnh stays unchanged!
Phở là món ăn ngon nhất!
Pho is the most delicious dish!
ngon nhất = most delicious (delicious + most). nhất = superlative marker, always after adjective.
Cà phê không đắt bằng trà.
Coffee is not as expensive as tea.
không...bằng = not as...as. đắt = expensive. Negative equality comparison.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises
Put it into practice
Try a free exercise from the courseFrequently asked questions
- When is So sánh used?
- Vietnamese comparisons use simple words after adjectives — no changing the adjective form!
- What are common mistakes with So sánh?
- Adding comparative endings to adjectives or word order issues. 🇬🇧 English speakers: Try to add '-er'/'-est' to adjectives. Vietnamese just adds hơn/nhất after the unchanged adjective. 🇩🇪 German speakers: German modifies adjectives (-er/-sten). Vietnamese keeps the adjective intact. 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: Russian modifies adjectives (красивее, красивейший). Vietnamese: đẹp hơn, đẹp nhất. 🇨🇿 Czech speakers: Czech uses -ější/-ší. Vietnamese is simpler: just add hơn/nhất.