Expressing multiplicity with 倍
Multiplicity, the comparison of objects by quantity and quality, can be expressed with 倍.
What does 倍 mean?
Multiplicity is expressed with 倍 
.
. Pay attention
A numeral is often placed before it.
The word 倍 itself expresses a unit, 100%.
So, 2倍 is 2 units, or 200%. Similarly, 5倍 is 500%.
倍 can also be used differently, and that’s why we will analyze it in the examples below.
Expressing "several times more" with 是 and 有
倍 is used to say “several times more”. In the structure below, “A” and “B” are objects that are being compared.
Scheme
A
larger number
是/有
B
smaller number
的
number 倍
Examples
他的收入是她的两倍
He earns twice as much as her
tā de shōurù shì tā de liǎng bèi
In the example above, "her salary" ("B") is the unit 100%.
"His salary" ("A") is 2 of these units (200%), which is twice as much as her.
So, A=2*B.
Examples
土豆的热量有白黄瓜的数倍
Potatoes contain several times more calories than cucumbers
tǔdòu de rèliàng yǒu bái huángguā de shù bèi
In the example above, we take as a basis “the number of calories in cucumbers” ("B”).
The number of calories in potatoes (“A”) is several times more than the number of calories in cucumbers (“B”). We don’t know the exact number of times. It isn’t important.
So, A=several Bs.
In these type of sentences, 是 is used much more often than 有.
Pay attention
The value of "А" is not important.
Examples
我们需要现有数量的两倍
We need twice this amount
wǒmen xūyào xiàn yǒu shùliàng de liǎng bèi
How to talk about the multiplication of numbers
We should use the structure below to talk about the multiplication of numbers:
Scheme
numeral 1
factor 1
的
quantity 倍
factor 2
是
numeral 2
product
Examples
三的四倍是十二
Three times four equals twelve
sān de sì bèi shì shí'èr
二的二倍是四
Two times two is four
èr de èr bèi shì sì
Making adjectives and adverbs
Using 倍, we can form adjectives like “double”, “triple”.
An adjective is formed like this:
Scheme
numeral
倍
(的)
Pay attention
The particle 的 can be omitted.
can be omitted.Examples
昨天公司给我们发了两倍的工资
Yesterday the firm paid us double our salary
zuótiān gōngsī gěi wǒmen fā le liǎng bèi de gōngzī
要付款三倍价钱
You need to pay triple the price
yào fùkuǎn sān bèi jiàqián
Pay attention
In colloquial speech, 两倍 is often replaced with 双倍 .
.倍 can be placed before verbs and act as an adverb with the meaning “twice”, “intensively”.
An adverb is formed like this:
Scheme
(numeral)
倍
(地)
Pay attention
The particle 地 and the numeral can be omitted.
If there is no numeral before 倍, and 两 is before 倍, the adverb is translated as “twice”.
and the numeral can be omitted.
If there is no numeral before 倍, and 两 is before 倍, the adverb is translated as “twice”.Examples
过新年的时候，我们一般两倍地梦想
On New Years, we usually dream twice as much as usual
guò xīnnián de shíhou, wǒmen yìbān liǎng bèi de mèngxiǎng
我给它们的爱意，它们百倍地回报了我
They repaid me for my love with love a hundredfold
wǒ gěi tāmen de àiyì, tāmen bǎi bèi de huíbào le wǒ
Making comparisons with 倍 and 比
倍 can express the difference between objects in a comparative structure using the character 比 . Using this structure, we can make sentences like "5 times more", "two times less often", "1.5 times stronger".
. Using this structure, we can make sentences like "5 times more", "two times less often", "1.5 times stronger".Scheme
A
比
B
adjective
number 倍
Pay attention
In this case, the original amount “B” is also counted. That’s why, while translating a sentence into English, you need to add +1 to a number.
For example, 一倍 is translated “twice”, 三倍 is translated “four times”.
Examples
我比这个孩子高两倍
I am three times taller than this kid
wǒ bǐ zhè ge háizi gāo liǎng bèi
他56岁，年龄比她大一倍
He is 56. He is twice as old as her
tā wǔshí liù suì, niánlíng bǐ tā dà yí bèi
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