Comparison with 跟: A跟B一样 / A有B那么+adj
A 跟 B 一样 (gēn…yíyàng) says that A and B are the same, and A 有 B 那么 + adjective says A reaches B's level. Their negatives are 不一样 and 没有 B 那么 + adjective.
程度对等 (degree comparison): A + 有 + B + 那么/这么 + Adj
他有我这么高。(He's as tall as me.) Negative form (already known: A没有B那么+Adj = not as Adj as B): 我没有他那么高。
Don't confuse 一样 (same/identical) with 有…那么 (matching degree, can be negated more naturally).
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 我跟他一样高。 | Wǒ gēn tā yīyàng gāo. | I'm the same height as him. | Minimal frame for 跟...一样+Adj equality. |
| 这个书包跟那个不一样。 | Zhège shūbāo gēn nàge bù yīyàng. | This backpack is different from that one. | Negation of 一样 — general difference, no adjective needed. |
| 我妹妹有我这么高了。 | Wǒ mèimei yǒu wǒ zhème gāo le. | My younger sister is now as tall as me. | New pattern 有+B+这么+Adj (degree equality), reusing known 这么. |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
跟…一样 (gēn…yí yàng)
Says two things are the same in a respect.
Structure: A + 跟 + B + 一样 (+ adj)
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我的手机跟你的一样。 | Wǒ de shǒu jī gēn nǐ de yí yàng. | My phone is the same as yours. |
| 他的汉语跟中国人一样好。 | Tā de hàn yǔ gēn zhōng guó rén yí yàng hǎo. | His Chinese is as good as a Chinese person's. |
| 今天的天气跟昨天一样冷。 | Jīn tiān de tiān qì gēn zuó tiān yí yàng lěng. | Today is as cold as yesterday. |
Not: 我跟他一样很高。 一样 already sets equal degree, so 很 is not added.
跟…不一样 (gēn…bù yí yàng)
Says that two things are different from each other.
Structure: A + 跟 + B + 不一样
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 他的想法跟我的不一样。 | Tā de xiǎng fǎ gēn wǒ de bù yí yàng. | His idea is different from mine. |
| 这里的冬天跟北京的不一样。 | Zhè lǐ de dōng tiān gēn běi jīng de bù yí yàng. | Winter here is different from Beijing's. |
| 你的鞋跟我的不一样。 | Nǐ de xié gēn wǒ de bù yí yàng. | Your shoes are not the same as mine. |
Not: 我跟他不是一样。 The negative is 不一样, not 不是一样.
有…那么 (yǒu…nà me)
Says A reaches B's level, in a question or a negative.
Structure: A + 有 + B + 那么 + adj
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 这个房间有那个房间那么大。 | Zhè gè fáng jiān yǒu nà gè fáng jiān nà me dà. | This room is as big as that one. |
| 北京有上海那么热吗？ | Běi jīng yǒu shàng hǎi nà me rè ma? | Is Beijing as hot as Shanghai? |
| 我的汉语有他那么好就好了。 | Wǒ de hàn yǔ yǒu tā nà me hǎo jiù hǎo le. | If only my Chinese were as good as his. |
Not: 我有他高。 Add 这么 or 那么: 我有他那么高.
没有…那么 (méi yǒu…nà me)
Says A does not reach B's level.
Structure: A + 没有 + B + 那么 + adj
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 今天没有昨天那么冷。 | Jīn tiān méi yǒu zuó tiān nà me lěng. | Today is not as cold as yesterday. |
| 我没有他那么忙。 | Wǒ méi yǒu tā nà me máng. | I am not as busy as he is. |
| 这家饭馆没有那家那么贵。 | Zhè jiā fàn guǎn méi yǒu nà jiā nà me guì. | This restaurant is not as expensive as that one. |
Not: 我不有他那么高。 The negative of 有 is 没有, never 不有.
What you need first
Every topic in GraphChinese names its own prerequisites, and these are the grammar points this one is built on. If a sentence here will not parse, one of them is why.
What this opens up
These patterns list Comparison with 跟 among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.
Questions about Comparison with 跟
What does 比较句 (Comparison with 跟) mean in Chinese?
A 跟 B 一样 (gēn…yíyàng) says that A and B are the same, and A 有 B 那么 + adjective says A reaches B's level. Their negatives are 不一样 and 没有 B 那么 + adjective. It is an HSK 2 grammar point.
How do you use 比较句 (Comparison with 跟) in a sentence?
我跟他一样高。 — Wǒ gēn tā yīyàng gāo. — I'm the same height as him. Minimal frame for 跟...一样+Adj equality.
What do you need to know before 比较句 (Comparison with 跟)?
Comparison with 比 (HSK 2), Demonstrative Adverbs (HSK 2), Comparison Sentences with 比 and 没有 (HSK 1). This pattern is built out of them, so a sentence here that will not parse usually means one of them has not landed yet.
What does 比较句 (Comparison with 跟) lead to?
跟/和…一样/不一样 (HSK 4). Each of them names 比较句 (Comparison with 跟) among its own prerequisites.
How do I say A is not as tall as B?
Use 没有: A没有B那么高. For example 他没有我高。 不比 is different and means 'not taller than', which can mean equal.
Can I use 这么 instead of 那么 in the 有 pattern?
Yes. Use 这么 when the thing compared is near you or is the speaker, as in 我妹妹有我这么高了, and 那么 for something far away.
Comparison with 跟 is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
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