跟…相比 vs 跟…一样: what is the difference?
跟…相比 compares how two things differ in degree or change. 跟…一样 says they are the same. Say 他跟我一样高 for equal height, and 跟我相比，他高多了 for a difference.
| Word | Pinyin | What it does | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 跟…相比 | gēn…xiāng bǐ | Sets up the thing you compare against at the start of the sentence. | 跟 + baseline + 相比，+ result |
| 跟…一样 | gēn … yí yàng | Says two things are the same in some respect. | A + 跟 + B + 一样 (+ Adj) |
跟…相比 (gēn…xiāng bǐ)
Sets up the thing you compare against at the start of the sentence.
Structure: 跟 + baseline + 相比，+ result
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 跟北方相比，南方的冬天暖和多了。 | Gēn běi fāng xiāng bǐ, nán fāng de dōng tiān nuǎn huo duō le. | Compared with the north, winter in the south is much warmer. |
| 跟三年前相比，我的汉语进步了不少。 | Gēn sān nián qián xiāng bǐ, wǒ de hàn yǔ jìn bù le bù shǎo. | Compared with three years ago, my Chinese has improved a lot. |
| 跟自己做饭相比，在外面吃饭要贵得多。 | Gēn zì jǐ zuò fàn xiāng bǐ, zài wài miàn chī fàn yào guì de duō. | Compared with cooking at home, eating out costs much more. |
Not: 跟他相比一样高。 相比 compares a difference in degree, so it cannot say two things are equal. For sameness use 跟他一样高。
跟…一样 (gēn … yí yàng)
Says two things are the same in some respect.
Structure: A + 跟 + B + 一样 (+ Adj)
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我的书包跟你的一样。 | Wǒ de shū bāo gēn nǐ de yí yàng. | My schoolbag is the same as yours. |
| 弟弟跟爸爸一样高。 | Dì di gēn bà ba yí yàng gāo. | My younger brother is as tall as Dad. |
| 这家饭馆的菜跟家里做的一样好吃。 | Zhè jiā fàn guǎn de cài gēn jiā lǐ zuò de yí yàng hǎo chī. | The food in this restaurant is as tasty as home cooking. |
Not: 我的手机一样你的。 The order is A 跟 B 一样: 我的书包跟你的一样。
Where this comes from
The comparison is part of Comparison Sentences: 跟…相比 (HSK 5) in the grammar reference, which has the full explanation, more worked examples, and what to learn before and after it.
More pairs: 从而 vs 因此 · 从…来看 vs 在…看来 · 大都 vs 都 · 过于 vs 太 · 看不得 vs 看不懂 · 累坏了 vs 累得不得了 · 凭 vs 依据 · 起来 vs 下去 · 仍旧 vs 依旧 · 为了 vs 为的是 · 有 vs 有着 · 再次 vs 又 · all 81 pairs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 跟…相比 and 跟…一样?
跟…相比 compares how two things differ in degree or change. 跟…一样 says they are the same. Say 他跟我一样高 for equal height, and 跟我相比，他高多了 for a difference.
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