ChineseGrammarWiki/Programmes/B2.old/Grammar-wiki-B2-60.txt

{{Grammar Box}} 

不如 (bùrú) can be used to make comparisons in a similar way as the [[Basic comparisons with "bi"|比]] structure. In its simplest form 不如 is used to convey that A is 'not as good as' B. Unlike the 比 structure, when used in this way, the adjective or verb can be omitted.

== Simple Pattern ==

=== Structure ===

<div class="jiegou">
A + 不如 + B 
</div>

=== Examples === 

<div class="liju">
*我 哥 的 成绩 <em>不如</em> 我 。<span class="trans">My elder brother's .</span>
*看 电影 <em>不如</em> 看 原著 。<span class="trans">Watching the movie isn't as good as reading the book.</span>
*他 总是 觉得 自己 <em>不如</em> 别人 。<span class="trans">He always thinks he's not as good as other people.</span>
</div>

== Advanced Pattern ==

When an adjective or verb is added to the structure it can then be used to mean A is not as 'adjective' as B, or A does not 'verb' as well as B:

=== Structure ===

<div class="jiegou">
A + 不如 + B + Adj. 
</div>

<div class="jiegou">
A + Verb + 得 + 不如 + B + Adj. 
</div>

<div class="jiegou">
A + Verb-Obj. + 不如 + B+ (Verb + 得) + Adj. 
</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">

*这 件 裙子 <em>不如</em> 那 件 好看 。<span class="trans">This dress doesn't look as good as that one.</span>
*那个 说法 <em>不如</em> 这个 说法 实用 。<span class="trans">This saying isn't as practical as that one.</span>
*他 穿 得 <em>不如</em> 你 好看 。<span class="trans">He doesn't dress as well as you do.</span>
*我 担心 我 解释 得 <em>不如</em> 你 清楚 。<span class="trans">I'm afraid that I can't explain as clearly as you do.</span>
*他 说 中文 <em>不如</em> 他 老婆 说 得 地道 。<span class="trans">He doesn't speak Chinese as authentically as his wife does.</span>
*我 打字 <em>不如</em> 你 打 得 快 。<span class="trans">I don't type as fast as you do.</span>

</div>

== 不如 as an Adverb ==

When facing a choice, 不如 can also be used to mean "might as well" to emphasize the choice is the better of two options. When used like this, it is similar in meaning to 不妨.

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">

*在 家 看 电视 多 无聊 ！<em>不如</em> 去 KTV 吧 。<span class="trans"> , might as well .</span>
*我们 在 这里 等 也 是 浪费 时间 ，<em>不如</em> 先 去 吃 个 饭 吧 。<span class="trans">It's a waste of time for us to wait here.We might as well go out and eat something first.</span>
*<em>与其</em> 空想，<em>不如</em> 马上 行动 。<span class="trans">Rather than fantasizing, you might as well take action right away.</span>
*<em>与其</em> 天天 吵架 ，<em>不如</em> 离婚 。<span class="trans">Rather than fighting each and every day, you might as well break up.</span>

</div>

As in the last two example sentences, 不如 often occurs in the 与其...不如 structure, meaning "rather than X... might as well Y."

==See also==
* [[Basic comparisons with "bu bi"]]
* [[Basic comparisons with "meiyou"]]
* [[Comparing Specifically with "xiang"]]
* [[Comparing]]

== Sources and  further reading ==

===  Books ===

* [[A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) ]] (pp. 543-7) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA →buy]
* [[Boya Chinese Lower Intermediate 1 (博雅汉语准中级加速篇)]] (pp. 38-9)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7301075308/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7301075308 →buy] 
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (pp. 89) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792 →buy]
* [[Short-term Spoken Chinese: Elementary (汉语口语速成基础篇)]] (pp. 80-1)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00326U9MS/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B00326U9MS →buy] 


[[Category: B2 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|不如|B2|不如⋯⋯|我的 汉语 <em>不如</em> 他的。|grammar point|ASGWH1D5}}
{{Rel char|不}}
{{Rel char|如}}
{{Similar|Basic comparisons with "bu bi"}}
{{Similar|Comparing Specifically with "xiang"}}
{{Similar|Comparing}}
{{Used for|Denying and refusing}}
{{Used for|Comparing}}
{{POS|Verbs}}
{{Subprop|Verbs}}
{{Translation|less}}
{{Translation|not}}