Comparisons in Chinese: 比, 没有, 不如, 跟…一样
To compare two things in Chinese, put 比 between them and the adjective after: A 比 B + adjective, as in 我比他高 (Wǒ bǐ tā gāo, I am taller than him). The adjective takes no 很, and to say "not as … as" you swap 比 for 没有: 我没有他高. The table below has the 17 comparison patterns from HSK 1 to HSK 5.
| Pattern | Pinyin | Meaning | HSK | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A比B + adj | A bǐ B + adj | A is more (adj) than B | 1 | 我比他高。 Wǒ bǐ tā gāo. I am taller than him. |
| A没有B + adj | A méiyǒu B + adj | A is not as (adj) as B | 1 | 今天没有昨天冷。 Jīntiān méiyǒu zuótiān lěng. Today is not as cold as yesterday. |
| A比B更 / 还 + adj | A bǐ B gèng / hái + adj | A is even more (adj) than B | 2 | 这本书比那本还贵。 Zhè běn shū bǐ nà běn hái guì. This book is even more expensive than that one. |
| A比B + adj + 一点儿 / 得多 / 多了 | yìdiǎnr / de duō / duō le | A is a little / much more (adj) than B | 2 | 他比我高得多。 Tā bǐ wǒ gāo de duō. He is much taller than me. |
| A比B + adj + number | A bǐ B + adj + number | A is more (adj) than B by an exact amount | 2 | 哥哥比我大两岁。 Gēge bǐ wǒ dà liǎng suì. My older brother is two years older than me. |
| A跟B一样 (+ adj) | A gēn B yíyàng | A is the same as B, A is as (adj) as B | 2 | 我跟你一样高。 Wǒ gēn nǐ yíyàng gāo. I am as tall as you. |
| A跟B不一样 | A gēn B bù yíyàng | A is different from B | 2 | 我的想法跟你的不一样。 Wǒ de xiǎngfǎ gēn nǐ de bù yíyàng. My view is different from yours. |
| A有B (那么) + adj | A yǒu B (nàme) + adj | A is as (adj) as B (asks or states that A reaches B) | 2 | 他有你那么高吗？ Tā yǒu nǐ nàme gāo ma? Is he as tall as you? |
| A + V得比B + adj | A + V de bǐ B + adj | A does V more (adj) than B | 3 | 她写得比我漂亮。 Tā xiě de bǐ wǒ piàoliang. She writes more beautifully than I do. |
| A比B + V得 + adj | A bǐ B + V de + adj | the same meaning, 比 placed before the verb | 3 | 她比我写得漂亮。 Tā bǐ wǒ xiě de piàoliang. She writes more beautifully than I do. |
| 比较 / 更加 + adj | bǐjiào / gèngjiā + adj | fairly (adj) / even more (adj), with no B named | 3 | 这家店比较便宜。 Zhè jiā diàn bǐjiào piányi. This shop is fairly cheap. |
| A比B + verb phrase | A bǐ B + verb phrase | A does something more than B | 4 | 他比我更喜欢运动。 Tā bǐ wǒ gèng xǐhuan yùndòng. He likes sport more than I do. |
| A没有B那么 + adj | A méiyǒu B nàme + adj | A is not as (adj) as B | 4 | 北京没有哈尔滨那么冷。 Běijīng méiyǒu Hā'ěrbīn nàme lěng. Beijing is not as cold as Harbin. |
| A不如B (+ adj) | A bùrú B | A is not as good as B, A is not as (adj) as B | 4 | 坐地铁不如骑车快。 Zuò dìtiě bùrú qí chē kuài. Taking the subway is not as fast as cycling. |
| 越来越 + adj | yuèláiyuè + adj | more and more (adj) | 4 | 天气越来越热了。 Tiānqì yuèláiyuè rè le. The weather is getting hotter and hotter. |
| 跟…相比 / 与…相比 | gēn … xiāngbǐ / yǔ … xiāngbǐ | compared with … | 5 | 跟去年相比，今年的雨少多了。 Gēn qùnián xiāngbǐ, jīnnián de yǔ shǎo duō le. Compared with last year, there has been much less rain this year. |
| 最 + adj | zuì + adj | the most (adj) | 2 | 他是我们班最高的。 Tā shì wǒmen bān zuì gāo de. He is the tallest in our class. |
比 vs 没有
比 says A is more than B. 没有 is its usual negation and says A is less than B.
- No 很, 非常 or 太 after 比. 他比我很高 is wrong. Say 他比我高, put 更 or 还 (hái) before the adjective (他比我还高, he is even taller than me), or put the degree after it (他比我高一点儿, 高得多, 高两厘米).
- 没有 is the normal "not as … as". 我没有他高 (Wǒ méiyǒu tā gāo), I am not as tall as him. Add 那么 or 这么 for emphasis: 我没有他那么高.
- 不比 means "no more than". 我不比他高 (Wǒ bù bǐ tā gāo) answers someone who thinks I am taller: I am no taller than him, and we may be the same. It is a rebuttal, not the plain negative.
- 不如 is the formal cousin of 没有. 我的中文不如他, my Chinese is not as good as his. Unlike 没有, it can end the sentence without an adjective.
Learners meet 比 and 没有 together at HSK 1; 不如 arrives with 没有/不如 at HSK 4.
Where 得 goes when you compare actions
To compare how two people do something, combine 比 with a 得 (de) complement. Both word orders are correct and mean the same:
- 她写得比我漂亮。 Tā xiě de bǐ wǒ piàoliang. Verb + 得 first, then 比 B.
- 她比我写得漂亮。 Tā bǐ wǒ xiě de piàoliang. 比 B first, then verb + 得.
The degree still goes at the end: 他跑得比我快得多, he runs much faster than me. With an object, say the verb twice: 她写字写得比我漂亮. What you cannot do is put 比 B after the adjective, or drop 得. The full point is A比B V得Adj at HSK 3, extended with verb phrases in 比 at HSK 4.
Frequently asked questions
Why is 他比我很高 wrong?
A 比 sentence already says "more", so it cannot also take 很, 非常 or 太, which describe a fixed degree. Say 他比我高, or use 更 or 还 before the adjective (他比我还高), or put the amount after it (他比我高一点儿, 他比我高得多).
What is the difference between 没有 and 不如?
Both mean "not as … as". 没有 is the everyday negation of 比 and needs an adjective: 我没有他高. 不如 is more formal and can stand alone to mean "not as good as": 我的中文不如他 (my Chinese is not as good as his).
What is the difference between 不比 and 没有?
没有 says A falls short of B: 我没有他高 (I am shorter than him). 不比 rejects a claim that A is more: 我不比他高 means "I am no taller than him", so we may be the same height. Use 没有 for a plain "not as … as".
How do you say "much taller" in Chinese?
Put 得多 or 多了 after the adjective: 他比我高得多, or 他比我高多了. For a little, use 一点儿: 他比我高一点儿. For an exact amount, put the number last: 他比我高五厘米 (he is five centimetres taller than me).
How do you say "as … as" in Chinese?
Use A 跟 B 一样 + adjective: 我跟你一样高 (I am as tall as you). In a question or to say A reaches B, use 有: 他有你那么高吗？ The negative is 没有: 他没有你那么高.
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