Comparisons

Original teaching practice. Read one pattern, cover its model and try the questions before checking the separate answer section. Examples adapted from Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning, CC BY-NC-SA) retain the course-reference provenance.

not / haven't没méi(to have / there is有yǒu) comparisons (not as … as)

Not as tall as his brother

• Two brothers stand back to back. The younger one is shorter, and he does not like it.
• younger brother弟弟dì dinot have / haven't没有méi yǒuolder brother哥哥gē gēhigh高gāo。 – "The younger brother isn't as tall as the older one."

A + not / haven't没méi(to have / there is有yǒu) + B + Adjective

• A not have / haven't没有méi yǒu B + Adj = "A is not as Adj as B". It is the usual negative of a than / compared to比bǐ comparison.
• The adjective stays bare: not have / haven't没有méi yǒuhe / him他tāhigh高gāo, not have / haven't没有méi yǒuyesterday昨天zuó tiāncold冷lěng.

today今天jīn tiānnot as没有méi yǒuyesterday昨天zuó tiāncold冷lěng。

Add like that那么nà me or so much这么zhè me for force

• I / me我wǒ(modifier / structural particle)的deChinese language中文zhōng wénnot have / haven't没有méi yǒuyou你nǐlike that那么nà megood好hǎo。 – "My Chinese isn't as good as yours."
• so much这么zhè me for something here: that那个nà gecity城市chéng shìnot have / haven't没有méi yǒuBeijing, capital of the…北京běi jīngso much这么zhè mesee 大夫大dà。 – "That city isn't as big as Beijing (here)."

my我wǒ的deChinese中文Zhōng wénnot as没有méi yǒuyou你nǐso那么nà megood好hǎo。

No degree / adjective linker很hěn, and not have / haven't没有méi yǒu not not不bù

• No degree / adjective linker很hěn or very非常fēi cháng before the adjective: not have / haven't没有méi yǒuhe / him他tāhigh高gāo, not not have / haven't没有méi yǒuhe / him他tādegree / adjective linker很hěnhigh高gāo.
• unlike不比bù bǐ is a different idea ("not more … than", often in an argument); the plain negative of than / compared to比bǐ is not have / haven't没有méi yǒu.

than / compared to比bǐ versus not have / haven't没有méi yǒu

• Positive: older brother哥哥gē gēthan / compared to比bǐyounger brother弟弟dì dihigh高gāo。 – "The older brother is taller than the younger."
• Negative: younger brother弟弟dì dinot have / haven't没有méi yǒuolder brother哥哥gē gēhigh高gāo。 Flip the order, use not have / haven't没有méi yǒu, keep the same adjective.

older brother哥哥gē gethan比bǐyounger brother弟弟dì ditall高gāo。

Recap

• A not have / haven't没有méi yǒu B (like that那么nà me) + Adj = A is not as Adj as B.
• It is the negative of A than / compared to比bǐ B + Adj. Bare adjective, no degree / adjective linker很hěn.

Practise this pattern step by step.

with / and跟gēn … than / compared to比bǐ((after a verb) indicating…起来qǐ lái) (compared with …)

Your city or mine?

• A friend from Shanghai is visiting your small town and finds everything slower and quieter.
• with / and跟gēnShanghai municipality…上海shàng hǎithan / compared to比bǐ，here这儿zhè érquiet安静ān jìngmany多duō(completed / change)了le。 – "Compared with Shanghai, it's much quieter here."

with / and跟gēn + B + than / compared to比bǐ((after a verb) indicating…起来qǐ lái)，A …

• with / and跟gēn B than / compared to比bǐ((after a verb) indicating…起来qǐ lái) = "compared with B" sets up the comparison first; the comment on A follows.
• It often starts the sentence, separated by a comma: with / and跟gēnlast year去年qù niánthan / compared to比bǐ，this year今年jīn nián(modifier / structural particle)的desummer夏天xià tiān热多rè duō(completed / change)了le.

with跟gēnlast year去年qù niáncompared比bǐ，this year今年jīn niánhot热rèmuch多duō了le。

After the subject

• The phrase can follow the subject: I / me我wǒwith / and跟gēnI / me我wǒolder brother哥哥gē gēthan / compared to比bǐ(after a verb) indicating…起来qǐ lái，or / still还是hái shìfairly / rather比较bǐ jiàolow矮ǎi。 – "Compared with my brother, I'm still rather short."
• and / with和hé can replace with / and跟gēn: and / with和héBeijing, capital of the…北京běi jīngthan / compared to比bǐ，Guangzhou subprovincial…广州guǎng zhōuwarm暖和nuǎn huo(degree marker)得demany多duō。

with和héBeijing北京Běi jīngcompared比bǐ，Guangzhou广州Guǎng zhōuwarm暖和nuǎn huomuch more得多de duō。

Do not add than / compared to比bǐ twice

• After with / and跟gēn B than / compared to比bǐ, the comment uses a plain adjective (+ many多duō(completed / change)了le / a bit一点yì diǎn): quiet安静ān jìngmany多duō(completed / change)了le, not than / compared to比bǐquiet安静ān jìngmany多duō(completed / change)了le.
• Keep with / and跟gēn before B: with / and跟gēnShanghai municipality…上海shàng hǎithan / compared to比bǐ, not than / compared to比bǐwith / and跟gēnShanghai municipality…上海shàng hǎi.

with / and跟gēn…than / compared to比bǐ versus A than / compared to比bǐ B

• A than / compared to比bǐ B + Adj is one tight sentence: here这儿zhè érthan / compared to比bǐShanghai municipality…上海shàng hǎiquiet安静ān jìng.
• with / and跟gēn B than / compared to比bǐ，A … sets the scene first, which suits longer descriptions and opinions.

here这儿zhèrthan比bǐShanghai上海Shàng hǎiquiet安静ān jìng。

Recap

• with / and跟gēn / and / with和hé B than / compared to比bǐ((after a verb) indicating…起来qǐ lái)，A + Adj = compared with B, A is …
• No second than / compared to比bǐ in the comment; many多duō(completed / change)了le or a bit一点yì diǎn often follow the adjective.

Practise this pattern step by step.

than / compared to比bǐ … more更gèng / still / also还hái (even more than)

Already tall, and even taller

• Your friend is already tall, but her younger sister, only fourteen, is taller still.
• she / her她tādegree / adjective linker很hěnhigh高gāo，she / her她tāyounger sister妹妹mèi mèithan / compared to比bǐshe / her她tāstill / also还háihigh高gāo。 – "She's tall, and her younger sister is even taller."

A than / compared to比bǐ B + more更gèng / still / also还hái + Adjective

• more更gèng or still / also还hái before the adjective = "even more": B is already Adj, and A goes beyond it.
• than / compared to比bǐ comes first, then more更gèng or still / also还hái, then the bare adjective: than / compared to比bǐhe / him他tāmore更gèngbusy忙máng, than / compared to比bǐyesterday昨天zuó tiānstill / also还háicold冷lěng.

today今天jīn tiānthan比bǐyesterday昨天zuó tiāneven more更gèngcold冷lěng。

still / also还hái adds surprise

• more更gèng is neutral and common in writing: this这个zhè gemethod方法fāng fǎ更好gèng hǎo。
• still / also还hái sounds more surprised or emphatic in speech: this这个zhè gevegetable菜càithan / compared to比bǐthat那个nà gestill / also还háihot (spicy)辣là！ – "This dish is even spicier than that one!"

this这个zhè gedish菜càithan比bǐthat one那个nà geeven还háispicy辣là！

degree / adjective linker很hěn does not belong in than / compared to比bǐ sentences

• Use more更gèng or still / also还hái for "even more", never degree / adjective linker很hěn or very非常fēi cháng: than / compared to比bǐhe / him他tāmore更gènghigh高gāo, not than / compared to比bǐhe / him他tādegree / adjective linker很hěnhigh高gāo.
• more更gèng / still / also还hái go after the than / compared to比bǐ phrase, before the adjective: than / compared to比bǐI / me我wǒmore更gèngbusy忙máng, not more更gèngthan / compared to比bǐI / me我wǒbusy忙máng.

more更gèng without than / compared to比bǐ

• more更gèng also works alone when the comparison is clear: I / me我wǒto like喜欢xǐ huantea茶chá，but但dànI / me我wǒmore更gèngto like喜欢xǐ huancoffee (loanword)咖啡kā fēi。 – "I like tea, but I like coffee even more."
• still / also还hái in this sense needs the than / compared to比bǐ comparison.

I我wǒeven more更gènglike喜欢xǐ huancoffee咖啡kā fēi。

Recap

• A than / compared to比bǐ B more更gèng / still / also还hái + Adj = A is even more Adj than B (B is already Adj).
• still / also还hái sounds more emphatic; more更gèng also works without than / compared to比bǐ. Never degree / adjective linker很hěn in a than / compared to比bǐ sentence.

Practise this pattern step by step.

than / compared to比bǐ … Adj + many多duō(completed / change)了le (much more than)

Plane or train?

• You are choosing how to get from Beijing to Guangzhou. The train takes eight hours, the plane three.
• 坐飞机zuò fēi jīthan / compared to比bǐ坐火车zuò huǒ chērapid快kuàimany多duō(completed / change)了le。 – "Flying is much faster than taking the train."

A than / compared to比bǐ B + Adj + many多duō(completed / change)了le / (degree marker)得demany多duō

• Adj + many多duō(completed / change)了le or Adj + (degree marker)得demany多duō after a than / compared to比bǐ comparison = "much more …".
• The degree comes after the adjective, never before it.

this这zhè(measure word)件jiànthan比bǐthat那nàone件jiànexpensive贵guìmuch more得多de duō。

A little, or by how much

• a bit一点yì diǎn / some一些yī xiē for "a little more": today今天jīn tiānthan / compared to比bǐyesterday昨天zuó tiānto warm up热rèa bit一点yì diǎn。 – "Today is a bit hotter than yesterday."
• An exact amount also goes after the adjective: he / him他tāthan / compared to比bǐI / me我wǒsee 大夫大dà三岁sān suì。 – "He's three years older than me."

he他tāthan比bǐme我wǒolder大dàthree years三岁sān suì。

The amount comes last

• Say rapid快kuàimany多duō(completed / change)了le, not 多快duō kuài(completed / change)了le or 很快hěn kuàimany多duō(completed / change)了le: the degree follows the adjective.
• Put an exact difference after the adjective: see 大夫大dà三岁sān suì, not 三岁sān suìsee 大夫大dà in a than / compared to比bǐ sentence.

many多duō(completed / change)了le versus (degree marker)得demany多duō

• Both mean "much more"; many多duō(completed / change)了le is a little more spoken, (degree marker)得demany多duō a little more neutral.
• many多duō(completed / change)了le also works without than / compared to比bǐ for a change: I / me我wǒ(modifier / structural particle)的deillness病bìngmany好多hǎo duō(completed / change)了le – "I'm much better now."

my我wǒ的deillness病bìngbetter好hǎomuch多duō了le。

Recap

• A than / compared to比bǐ B + Adj + many多duō(completed / change)了le / (degree marker)得demany多duō = much more; + a bit一点yì diǎn = a little more; + amount = by that much.
• Every degree word or amount comes after the adjective.

Practise this pattern step by step.

N1 + to have / there is有yǒu + N2 + Adj (as … as)

Growing up fast

• Your nephew was tiny last year; now he reaches your shoulder.
• he / him他tārapid快kuàito have / there is有yǒuI / me我wǒso much这么zhè mehigh高gāo(completed / change)了le！ – "He's almost as tall as me!"

A + to have / there is有yǒu + B + (so much这么zhè me / like that那么nà me) + Adjective

• A to have / there is有yǒu B (like that那么nà me) + Adj = "A is as Adj as B": A reaches B's level.
• It is often used in questions and with rapid快kuài or already已经yǐ jīng: he / him他tāto have / there is有yǒuyou你nǐhigh高gāo(yes/no ?)吗ma？ – "Is he as tall as you?"

he他tāis as … as有yǒuyou你nǐtall高gāo吗ma？

Reaching a level

• this这个zhè gewatermelon西瓜xī guāto have / there is有yǒubasketball篮球lán qiúlike that那么nà mesee 大夫大dà。 – "This watermelon is as big as a basketball."
• With already已经yǐ jīng: I / me我wǒ(modifier / structural particle)的deChinese language中文zhōng wénalready已经yǐ jīngto have / there is有yǒuhe / him他tālike that那么nà megood好hǎo(completed / change)了le。 – "My Chinese is already as good as his."

this这个zhè gewatermelon西瓜xī guāis as … as有yǒua basketball篮球lán qiúso那么nà mebig大dà。

Bare adjective, and not have / haven't没有méi yǒu for "not as"

• No degree / adjective linker很hěn: to have / there is有yǒuhe / him他tālike that那么nà mehigh高gāo, not to have / there is有yǒuhe / him他tādegree / adjective linker很hěnhigh高gāo.
• The negative is not have / haven't没有méi yǒu, which you know already: he / him他tānot have / haven't没有méi yǒuI / me我wǒhigh高gāo – "He isn't as tall as me."

to have / there is有yǒu…like that那么nà me versus with / and跟gēn…same一样yī yàng

• with / and跟gēn B same一样yī yàng + Adj says the two are equal: he / him他tāwith / and跟gēnI / me我wǒsame一样yī yànghigh高gāo.
• to have / there is有yǒu B like that那么nà me + Adj says A reaches B's level, often as a question or a surprise: he / him他tāto have / there is有yǒuI / me我wǒso much这么zhè mehigh高gāo(yes/no ?)吗ma？

he他tāand跟gēnI我wǒequally一样yí yàngtall高gāo。

Recap

• A to have / there is有yǒu B (so much这么zhè me/like that那么nà me) + Adj = A is as Adj as B, A reaches B's level.
• Common in questions and with rapid快kuài / already已经yǐ jīng; negative not have / haven't没有méi yǒu.

Practise this pattern step by step.

Practice without the models

Choose a pattern, cover its teaching examples, and attempt its questions. Use the labels to find feedback in the separate key.

not / haven't没méi(to have / there is有yǒu) comparisons (not as … as)

0401.1 Complete: “The subway isn't as fast as the high-speed train.” underground railway地铁dì tiě…………high speed rail高铁gāo tiěrapid快kuài。

0401.2 Which sentence is correct?

• A. I / me我wǒnot have / haven't没有méi yǒubusy忙mánghe / him他tā。
• B. I / me我wǒnot have / haven't没有méi yǒuhe / him他tādegree / adjective linker很hěnbusy忙máng。
• C. I / me我wǒnot have / haven't没有méi yǒuhe / him他tālike that那么nà mebusy忙máng。
• D. I / me我wǒnot不bùto have / there is有yǒuhe / him他tābusy忙máng。

0401.3 Build: “My Chinese isn't as good as yours.”

Arrange all chunks: you你nǐ / like that那么nà megood好hǎo。 / I / me我wǒ(modifier / structural particle)的deChinese language中文zhōng wén / not have / haven't没有méi yǒu

0401.4 older brother哥哥gē gēthan / compared to比bǐyounger brother弟弟dì dihigh高gāo and younger brother弟弟dì dinot have / haven't没有méi yǒuolder brother哥哥gē gēhigh高gāo describe the same situation.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0401.5 Two brothers stand back to back. The younger one is shorter, and he does not like it. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

with / and跟gēn … than / compared to比bǐ((after a verb) indicating…起来qǐ lái) (compared with …)

0402.1 Complete: “Compared with last month, I'm much busier.” …………last month上个月shàng gè yuèthan / compared to比bǐ，I / me我wǒbusy忙mángmany多duō(completed / change)了le。

0402.2 Which sentence is correct?

• A. with / and跟gēnBeijing, capital of the…北京běi jīngthan / compared to比bǐ，Shanghai municipality…上海shàng hǎito warm up热rèa bit一点yì diǎn。
• B. than / compared to比bǐwith / and跟gēnBeijing, capital of the…北京běi jīng，Shanghai municipality…上海shàng hǎito warm up热rèa bit一点yì diǎn。
• C. with / and跟gēnBeijing, capital of the…北京běi jīngthan / compared to比bǐ，Shanghai municipality…上海shàng hǎispecific heat比热bǐ rèa bit一点yì diǎn。
• D. with / and跟gēnBeijing, capital of the…北京běi jīng，Shanghai municipality…上海shàng hǎispecific heat比热bǐ rèa bit一点yì diǎn。

0402.3 Build: “Compared with Beijing, Guangzhou is much warmer.”

Arrange all chunks: warm暖和nuǎn huo(degree marker)得demany多duō。 / ， / Guangzhou subprovincial…广州guǎng zhōu / and / with和héBeijing, capital of the…北京běi jīngthan / compared to比bǐ

0402.4 with / and跟gēnShanghai municipality…上海shàng hǎithan / compared to比bǐ，here这儿zhè érquiet安静ān jìngmany多duō(completed / change)了le and here这儿zhè érthan / compared to比bǐShanghai municipality…上海shàng hǎiquiet安静ān jìngmany多duō(completed / change)了le compare the same two places.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0402.5 A friend from Shanghai is visiting your small town and finds everything slower and quieter. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

than / compared to比bǐ … more更gèng / still / also还hái (even more than)

0403.1 Complete: “This one is even cheaper than that one.” this这个zhè gethan / compared to比bǐthat那个nà ge…………cheap便宜pián yi。

0403.2 Which sentence is correct?

• A. he / him他tāthan / compared to比bǐI / me我wǒvery非常fēi chángintelligent聪明cōng míng。
• B. he / him他tāthan / compared to比bǐI / me我wǒdegree / adjective linker很hěnintelligent聪明cōng míng。
• C. he / him他tāthan / compared to比bǐI / me我wǒmore更gèngintelligent聪明cōng míng。
• D. he / him他tāmore更gèngthan / compared to比bǐI / me我wǒintelligent聪明cōng míng。

0403.3 Build: “I like tea, but I like coffee even more.”

Arrange all chunks: ，but但dànI / me我wǒ / I / me我wǒto like喜欢xǐ huantea茶chá / more更gèngto like喜欢xǐ huan / coffee (loanword)咖啡kā fēi。

0403.4 she / her她tāyounger sister妹妹mèi mèithan / compared to比bǐshe / her她tāstill / also还háihigh高gāo implies that she is already quite tall.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0403.5 Your friend is already tall, but her younger sister, only fourteen, is taller still. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

than / compared to比bǐ … Adj + many多duō(completed / change)了le (much more than)

0404.1 Complete: “This room is much bigger than that one.” this这个zhè geroom房间fáng jiānthan / compared to比bǐthat那个nà gesee 大夫大dà…………。

0404.2 Which says “My sister is two years younger than me.”?

• A. younger sister妹妹mèi mèi两岁liǎng suìthan / compared to比bǐI / me我wǒsmall小xiǎo。
• B. younger sister妹妹mèi mèithan / compared to比bǐI / me我wǒsmall小xiǎo两岁liǎng suì。
• C. younger sister妹妹mèi mèithan / compared to比bǐI / me我wǒ两岁liǎng suìsmall小xiǎo。
• D. younger sister妹妹mèi mèithan / compared to比bǐI / me我wǒ很小hěn xiǎo两岁liǎng suì。

0404.3 Build: “Today is a bit hotter than yesterday.”

Arrange all chunks: than / compared to比bǐyesterday昨天zuó tiān / today今天jīn tiān / to warm up热rè / a bit一点yì diǎn。

0404.4 I / me我wǒ(modifier / structural particle)的deillness病bìngmany好多hǎo duō(completed / change)了le needs than / compared to比bǐ to be correct.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0404.5 You are choosing how to get from Beijing to Guangzhou. The train takes eight hours, the plane three. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

N1 + to have / there is有yǒu + N2 + Adj (as … as)

0405.1 Ask: “Is your hometown as cold as Harbin?” you你nǐ(modifier / structural particle)的dehometown家乡jiā xiāng…………Harbin, subprovincial city…哈尔滨hā ěr bīnlike that那么nà mecold冷lěng(yes/no ?)吗ma？

0405.2 Which sentence is correct?

• A. he / him他tāso much这么zhè meto have / there is有yǒuI / me我wǒhigh高gāo。
• B. he / him他tāto have / there is有yǒuhigh高gāoI / me我wǒso much这么zhè me。
• C. he / him他tāto have / there is有yǒuI / me我wǒdegree / adjective linker很hěnhigh高gāo。
• D. he / him他tāto have / there is有yǒuI / me我wǒso much这么zhè mehigh高gāo。

0405.3 Build: “This watermelon is as big as a basketball.”

Arrange all chunks: like that那么nà mesee 大夫大dà。 / this这个zhè gewatermelon西瓜xī guā / to have / there is有yǒu / basketball篮球lán qiú

0405.4 The negative of he / him他tāto have / there is有yǒuI / me我wǒhigh高gāo is he / him他tānot have / haven't没有méi yǒuI / me我wǒhigh高gāo.

True or false? Explain or repair the statement.

0405.5 Your nephew was tiny last year; now he reaches your shoulder. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.

Write or say your own response before reading the key.

A fresh situation

R1. Interpret and repair. A is taller than B. A learner writes Anot have / haven't没有méi yǒuBhigh高gāo. What relation does that actually express?

R2. Use it yourself. Say this room is much quieter than that room, then express the reverse relation using not have / haven't没有méi yǒu.

Write your responses before opening the key. Compare meaning as well as form; a different valid answer need not copy the model.