比较比較 bǐjiào — fairly, rather, comparatively
bǐjiào (third tone, dipping)bi3jiao4
Traditional: 比較
fairly, rather, comparatively
HSK 3· HSK 1–4 (classic)Level 3· Three-band, nine-level standardadverbverb
Meanings
fairly, rather, comparatively
Before an adjective it grades the quality against some unspoken standard: 今天比较冷 is "colder than usual", a shade less than 很冷. It is the polite way to say something is expensive, difficult or far.
adverbto compare
verb
Example sentences
- 今天比较冷，你多穿一点儿。今天比較冷，你多穿一點兒。Jīntiān (first tone, high and level) bǐjiào (third tone, dipping) lěng, (third tone, dipping) nǐ (third tone, dipping) duō (first tone, high and level) chuān (first tone, high and level) yìdiǎnr. (fourth tone, falling)···
It’s rather cold today — put on something more.
- 我们比较了这两个城市的环境。我們比較了這兩個城市的環境。Wǒmen (third tone, dipping) bǐjiàole (third tone, dipping) zhè (fourth tone, falling) liǎng (third tone, dipping) ge (neutral tone) chéngshì (second tone, rising) de (neutral tone) huánjìng. (second tone, rising)···
We compared the environments of these two cities.
Common mistakes
Not quite今天比较昨天冷。
Correct今天比昨天冷。
比较 is an adverb, not a preposition: it cannot introduce the thing compared. A two-item comparison uses bare 比 — A 比 B + adjective.