Comparisons with 比
In Chinese, these sentences are called "比"字句. They are often used in spoken language.
How to form a comparison with 比
Use the construction with 比 
to compare different people and things or to describe the changes in different situations:
to compare different people and things or to describe the changes in different situations:Scheme
A
比
B
adjective
Pay attention
"A" is always superior in something than "B": bigger, taller, prettier.
Examples
哥哥比我高
My brother is taller than me
gēge bǐ wǒ gāo
我比哥哥高
I'm taller than my brother
wǒ bǐ gēge gāo
中国比美国大
China is bigger than USA
zhōngguó bǐ měiguó dà
Use the quantity complement to specify the difference between "A" and "B" ↓
How to make the pattern with 比 shorter
When "A" and "B" have common words, "B" is usually shortened.
Let's look at the following examples:
Examples
我的成绩比你的好
My grades are better than yours
wǒ de chéngjī bǐ nǐ de hǎo
Pay attention
Here "A" is 我的成绩 and "B" is 你的成绩. The word 成绩 is repeated, so we do not mention it in the second part of the sentence.
Examples
这本书比那本有意思
This book is more interesting than that one
zhè běn shū bǐ nà běn yǒuyìsi
Pay attention
Here "A" is 这本书 and ""B is 那本书. The word 书 is repeated, so we do not mention it in the second part of the sentence.
If the things that are being compared have already been mentioned before, the nouns in both "A" and "B" can be omitted.
For example:
Examples
—— 你想买哪件裙子？
Which dress would you like to buy?
nǐ xiǎng mǎi nǎ jiàn qúnzi
—— 红色的比黑色的合适我，买红色的吧
The red one suits me better than the black one, so I'll get the red one
hóngsè de bǐ hēisè de héshì wǒ, mǎi hóngsè de ba
Pay attention
Here "A" is 红色的裙子 and "B" is 黑色的裙子. It has already been mentioned before that it is about dresses (裙子), so there is no need to mention this word again.
The shortened version also includes the particle 的 or a measure word.
or a measure word.Using verbs in structure with 比
Some verbs can also be used in the construction instead of adjectives.
Verbs that denote the following:
1) feelings and emotions:
爱
喜欢
想
愿意
喜欢
想
愿意 2) skills and interest:
了解
感兴趣
会
感兴趣
会 3) adding, raising or lowering:
增加
降低
扩大
增长
降低
扩大
增长 Examples
爸爸比我喜欢踢足球
Dad likes to play football more than me
bàba bǐ wǒ xǐhuan tī zúqiú
你比我会做菜
You're a better cook than me
nǐ bǐ wǒ huì zuò cài
平均工资比去年增长了
The average salary has increased since last year
píngjūn gōngzī bǐ qùnián zēngjiā le
The verb 有 cannot be used in the construction with 比.
The exceptions are adjectives beginning with 有: 有趣 , 有钱 , 有意思 can be used.
Sentences stating "someone has more/less of something" are translated with the words 多 or 少 . In this case, 多 and 少 are the predicates.
cannot be used in the construction with 比.
The exceptions are adjectives beginning with 有: 有趣 , 有钱 , 有意思 can be used.
Sentences stating "someone has more/less of something" are translated with the words 多 or 少 . In this case, 多 and 少 are the predicates.Examples
我的糖果比你的多
I have more candy than you
wǒ de tángguǒ bǐ nǐ de duō
Using adverbs in the structure with 比
If you want to express "B" has a high degree in a certain aspect, but "A" is much higher than "B" in that aspect, you can add 更 or 还 before the predicate.
or 还 before the predicate. Pay attention
Degree adverbs cannot be used in such sentences. For example, 很 or 非常 .
or 非常 .更 and 还 are slightly different in usage.
1) 更 expresses an objective assessment (a fact), while 还 expresses a subjective assessment (an opinion).
2) Modal verbs can be used after 更, e.g. 想 , 会 , 应该 .
They cannot be used after 还.
3) 还 is used when an adjective or verb is followed by a numeral.
, 会 , 应该 .
They cannot be used after 还.
3) 还 is used when an adjective or verb is followed by a numeral.Examples
我比你更喜欢画画儿
I like painting more than you
wǒ bǐ nǐ gèng xǐhuan huà huàr
你比我还胖四斤
You're 2 kilos heavier than me
nǐ bǐ wǒ hái pàng sì jīn
As well as expressing that two things differ, you can indicate that they differ a lot by adding 很多 , 多了 , or 得多 after the adjective.
, 多了 , or 得多 after the adjective.Examples
汉语比英语难多了
Chinese is much harder to learn than English
hànyǔ bǐ yīngyǔ nán duō le
一点儿 or 一些 is added after an adjective to emphasize a slight difference.
or 一些 is added after an adjective to emphasize a slight difference.
Examples
我们今天下课比昨天早一点儿
We finished the lesson a little earlier today compared to yesterday
wǒmen jīntiān xiàkè bǐ zuótiān zǎo yìdiǎnr
Adverbs like 也 and 都 are placed before 比.
and 都 are placed before 比.
Examples
弟弟也比我高
My younger brother is also taller than me
dìdi yě bǐ wǒ gāo
大家都比我高
Everyone is taller than me
dàjiā dōu bǐ wǒ gāo
Structures with 比 as the state complement
Comparative structures can serve as the state complement.
Read more about this topic here ↓
The negative form
In a negative sentence, the negative adverb 不 is placed before 比.
is placed before 比.Scheme
A
不比
B
predicate
Pay attention
不 cannot be placed before a predicate.
Examples
哥哥不比我高
My brother is not taller than me
gēge bù bǐ wǒ gāo
你不比我聪明
You're not smarter than me
nǐ bù bǐ wǒ cōngmíng
There are two possible meanings for these type of sentences:
1. "А" is the same as "В";
2. "B" is superior to "A".
The translation is as follows: "A" is no more [adjective] than "B". For example: no stronger, no thinner, no prettier.
Let's consider the last example: 你不比我聪明.
The meaning of this sentence can be understood as either "you are either as smart as me or stupider than me, but definitely not smarter than me" or "I am smarter than you".
不会比 is used instead of 不比 in spoken language when referring to the future.
is used instead of 不比 in spoken language when referring to the future.Examples
这次考试我不会比上次考得好
I won't do as well on this exam as the last one
zhè cì kǎoshì wǒ bú huì bǐ shàng cì kǎo de hǎo
The negation in a comparative sentence can also be formed with 没有 .
Read more about this topic here ↓
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Read more about this topic here ↓