每日中文 Daily ZhongWen

18 Chinese Grammar Points about 比


  • 1. 比 - A 比 B + Adj.
    A 比 B + adjective is the basic expression for comparison. In Chinese, adjectives do not have comparative and superlative form.
    If the comparison relates to the attributives of a noun, it is not necessary to repeat the noun.
  • 2. 比 - + Verb complement
    If the comparison is not between objects but between their actions, then a verb complement with 得 must be used. The 比 phrase may be placed either before the adjective or before the verb.
  • 3. 比 - + 什么/谁 "than any- else"
    比 can be followed by 什么 or 谁.
  • 4. In 把-sentence:比, "than"
    Comparison word 比, meaning "than", can be used after the 把-phrase.
  • 5. Negation| 不比
    To say that one thing is 'not ... ... than' another one, you can use 不比. This is similar to 没有.
  • 6. Negation| 没/没有-比
    没/没有 can negate the 比 sentences.
  • 7. 比 - + 得多/多了 "much more than"
    得多 or 多了 are used to express the big difference between two objects in a 比-sentence. They are interchangeable.
  • 8. 比 - +更/还+Adj.
    To emphasize the comparison, degree adverbs 更,还 can be placed before the adjective.
  • 9. 比 - 比起(来) is another structure to make comparisons.
  • 10. 比 - “比不过” or “比得过” is the fix expression used to make comparison.
  • 11. 比 - 比得上 and 比不上 are another pair of fixed expression to make comparison.
  • 12. 比 - + time phrase
    In Chinese an adverbial phrase of time or location can also make comparison. Phrase 多了 expresses the big difference in comparison.
  • 13. 比 - + Age:岁
    Adjective 小 or 大 followed by the numeral + 岁 can be used to compare age between 2 people.
  • 14. 比 - + Multiples of a quantity:倍
    The structure of numeral + 倍 can express multiple in Chinese. The structure must follow the adjective.
  • 15. 比 - 和/与-相比 means "compare to".
  • 16. 比 - Ratio: 比 "to"
    比 can be used to express ratio. It is translated as 'to'.
  • 17. 比 - 比较 "relatively;  compare"
    比较, as a verb, means 'to compare'; As an adverb, it means 'relatively'.
  • 18. 比 - 比如 or 比如说 means 'like or such as'.