跟 … 比(起来) (compared with …)
Setting two things side by side
- Before you compare, you can name the baseline: "compared with last year…".
- Chinese frames it with with / and跟 … than / compared to比((after a verb) indicating…起来).
- Then the second thing gets judged against it.
with / and跟 + N1 + than / compared to比((after a verb) indicating…起来)，N2 …
- Open with the baseline, then say how N2 differs.
with跟last year去年compare比，this year今年even more更hot热。
- with / and跟last year去年than / compared to比，this year今年更热 = "compared with last year, this year is hotter."
Practice
Compared with last year, this year is hotter: ____ 去年比，今年更热。
跟 + N1 + 比，N2 … names the baseline first: 跟去年比,今年更热.
Practice
What does 跟 … 比 introduce?
跟 + N1 + 比 sets the baseline; the second clause says how N2 differs.
Practice
Build: “Compared with last year, this year is hotter.”
跟 + N1 + 比，N2 + …: 跟去年比 + 今年 + 更热.
(after a verb) indicating…起来 is optional
- with / and跟last year去年than / compared to比(after a verb) indicating…起来，… means the same — (after a verb) indicating…起来 just rounds it off.
Explore
Correct or broken?
跟 B 比(起来) opens the sentence as the measuring stick, then A gets judged.
Practice
The 起来 in 比起来 is required — you must include it.
起来 is optional: 跟去年比 and 跟去年比起来 mean the same.
Recap
Key idea
- with / and跟 + N1 + than / compared to比((after a verb) indicating…起来)，N2 … — "compared with N1, N2 …"
- Names the baseline first, then the comparison
- with / and跟last year去年than / compared to比，this year今年更热
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Comparison patterns.