Comparing with 比
Put 比 between the two things you are comparing and finish with the adjective. A 比 sentence never contains 很, and “less than” is 没有, not 不比.
结构
A + 比 + B + 形容词（+ 一点儿／得多／数量）
讲解
本文中的中文词语都可以激活，查看词典释义。
The pattern is as short as it looks: A B + adjective. “It’s hotter today than yesterday.” “My older sister is taller than me.” The habit to break straight away is . In an ordinary adjective sentence is almost obligatory (), but a comparison already says “more”, so is pushed out: is right, is not. To say by how much, the amount goes after the adjective, never before it: “a bit taller”, “much taller”, “two years older”. and may stand in front of the adjective for extra force: . For “less than”, Chinese normally does not negate — it uses instead: “This phone isn’t as expensive as that one.” ( does exist, but it contradicts something already said, so it is safer to leave it for later.) Verbs are compared in the same frame, either with before the verb phrase or with a complement: / “He runs faster than me.”
正确
Say each one out loud before moving on. The audio is a reference pronunciation, not a model to imitate exactly — match the tone contour, not the voice.
今天比昨天热。今天比昨天熱。
Jīntiān (first tone, high and level) bǐ (third tone, dipping) zuótiān (second tone, rising) rè. (fourth tone, falling)···
It’s hotter today than yesterday.
我哥哥比我高一点儿。我哥哥比我高一點兒。
Wǒ (third tone, dipping) gēge (first tone, high and level) bǐ (third tone, dipping) wǒ (third tone, dipping) gāo (first tone, high and level) yìdiǎnr. (fourth tone, falling)···
My older brother is a bit taller than me.
这个手机没有那个贵。這個手機沒有那個貴。
Zhège (fourth tone, falling) shǒujī (third tone, dipping) méiyǒu (second tone, rising) nàge (fourth tone, falling) guì. (fourth tone, falling)···
This phone isn’t as expensive as that one.
错误 — 常见错误
These sentences are wrong. They are printed here on purpose, each one paired with the repair and the reason, because the error you can recognise is the error you stop making.
不太对
Incorrect sentence: 今天比昨天很热。
正确
Correct sentence: 今天比昨天热。
为什么: 很 cannot appear in a comparison. The word 比 already carries the “more” meaning, so the adjective stands alone.
不太对
Incorrect sentence: 我比他不高。
正确
Correct sentence: 我没有他高。
为什么: To say A is less than B, Chinese uses A 没有 B + adjective. Negating 比 with 不 is not how the comparison is turned around.
不太对
Incorrect sentence: 我比他两岁大。
正确
Correct sentence: 我比他大两岁。
为什么: The size of the gap follows the adjective, it never precedes it: 大两岁, 高一点儿, 贵得多.
对比
Most errors with this pattern are not errors about this pattern — they are a neighbouring pattern arriving at the wrong moment. Read these side by side.
The first thing learners are taught about adjectives is that they need 很 — and the first thing a comparison does is take it away. 今天很热 is a plain statement; 今天比昨天热 measures one thing against another, and 很 has no place in it. The same applies to 更 and 最, which replace 很 rather than joining it: 他更高, 他最高.
Adjectival predicates with 很 →小测验
第 1 题 / 3总分: 0
Choose the word that correctly fills the gap.
这本书 ___ 那本书有意思。