{{AKA|比字句 (bǐ zì jù)}} {{Grammar Box}} One of the most common words when [[comparing]] things in Chinese is to use [[比|比 (bǐ)]]. 比 (bǐ) has similarities to the English word "than," but it requires a word order that's not so intuitive, so you'll want to practice it quite a bit. == Basic Usage == You could think of 比 (bǐ) as meaning "than," except that it sits between the two things being compared. The [[word order]] will take a little getting used to, but aside from that, the pattern is quite easy. === Structure === To say that one thing is more ''adjective'' than another, the structure is:
Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + Adj.
The noun that's placed first is the one that comes out on top in the comparison. So in the sentence:
* 小李 比 小张 高 。Xiǎo Lǐ bǐ Xiǎo Zhāng gāo .Xiao Li is taller than Xiao Zhang.
小李 (Xiǎo Lǐ) is taller. The same situation could be described as
* 小张 比 小李 矮 。Xiǎo Zhāng bǐ Xiǎo Lǐ ǎi .Xiao Zhang is shorter than Xiao Li.
=== Examples ===
* 他 比 老师 聪明 。Tā bǐ lǎoshī cōngming.He is smarter than the teacher. * 上海 比 纽约 大 吗 ？Shànghǎi bǐ Niǔyuē dà ma? Is Shanghai bigger than New York? * 她 比 她 妈妈 漂亮 。Tā bǐ tā māma piàoliang .She is prettier than her mother. * 星巴克 的 咖啡 比 这里 的 咖啡 贵 。Xīngbākè de kāfēi bǐ zhèlǐ de kāfēi guì.The coffee at Starbucks is more expensive than the coffee here. * 地铁 比 公交车 方便 。Dìtiě bǐ gōngjiāochē fāngbiàn.The subway is more convenient than the bus.
== Common Errors == Try not to make these mistakes: The adjective used in the comparison should be positive, not negative.
比 (bǐ) is not used with 一样 (yīyàng). 比 (bǐ) is used when two things are ''not'' the same.
== Pattern Using 比 (bǐ) and 更 (gèng) == This is a slight upgrade of the basic 比 (bǐ) comparison pattern, adding in [[Expressing "even more" with "geng"|更 (gèng) before the adjective]]. 更 (gèng) means "even more," so the idea is that while one thing is already quite [adjective], this other thing is '''''even more''''' [adjective]. Pretty simple! === Structure ===
Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + 更 + Adj.
The only new thing here is the addition of 更 (gèng) before the adjective.
* 小李 比 小张 更 高 。Xiǎo Lǐ bǐ Xiǎo Zhāng gèng gāo .Xiao Li is even taller than Xiao Zhang.
The implication is that while Xiao Zhang is ''tall'', 小李 (Xiǎo Lǐ) is ''even taller''. === Examples ===
* 我 哥哥 比 我 更 高 。Wǒ gēge bǐ wǒ gèng gāo.My big brother is even taller than me. * 你 男朋友 比 我男朋友 更 帅 。Nǐ nánpéngyou bǐ wǒ nánpéngyou gèng shuài.Your boyfriend is even more handsome than mine. * 这里 的 冬天 比 纽约 的 冬天 更 冷 。Zhèlǐ de dōngtiān bǐ Niǔyuē de dōngtiān gèng lěng.The winter here is even colder than it is in New York. * 中文 语法 比 汉字 更 好玩 。Zhōngwén yǔfǎ bǐ Hànzì gèng hǎowán.Chinese grammar is even more fun than Chinese characters. * 你的 问题 比 我的 问题 更 麻烦。Nǐ de wèntí bǐ wǒ de wèntí gèng máfan.Your problem is even more troublesome than mine.
== See Also == Check these other comparison patterns out as well: * [[Basic comparisons with "meiyou"]] * [[Basic comparisons with "bu bi"]] * [[Comparing]] (patterns across all levels) == Sources and further reading == === Books === * [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (pp. 61-3) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899 →buy] * [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (p. 53) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy] * [[New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)]] (pp. 65-6) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561911297/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561911297 →buy] * [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 6-8) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy] * [[New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)]] (pp. 184-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X →buy] === Websites === * Yale Chinese Usage Dictionary: [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/chineseusagedictionary/0220.html Usage of 跟 and 比] [[Category:A2 grammar points]] [[Category:Comparison]] {{Basic Grammar|比|A2|Noun 1 + 比 + Noun 2 + Adj.|你 比 我 胖。|grammar point|ASG8SI2K}} {{Similar|Expressing "much more" in comparisons}} {{Similar|Basic comparisons with "bu bi"}} {{Similar|Basic comparisons with "meiyou"}} {{Similar|Expressing "even more" with "geng"}} {{Used for|Comparing}} {{POS|Prepositions}}