A 不如 B (not as good as) · A + 不如 + B
Suggest an alternative to a slow bus
- The bus wait is long, and walking is an available option. 不如走路吧。 — We might as well walk. The speaker proposes the alternative.
- The suggestion does not report that anyone has started walking or that everyone agrees.
Suggest an alternative to a slow bus
- The bus wait is long, and walking is an available option. falls short of / better to (context)不如to walk走路(suggestion)吧。 — We might as well walk. The speaker proposes the alternative.
- The suggestion does not report that anyone has started walking or that everyone agrees.
Two travel options are available; walking seems preferable. What does 不如走路吧。 communicate?
The speaker suggests walking as the better alternative. A 不如 B compares A unfavourably with B. The suggestion use can omit an explicit A when the alternative is recoverable.
Compare a property or propose an action
- In A + 不如 + B (+ property), A falls short of B in the stated comparison: 这个不如那个好 — this is not as good as that.
- For a suggestion, the other option can be understood: 不如走路吧。 The proposed action follows 不如.
this这个not as good as不如that那个good好。
Compare a property or propose an action
- In A + falls short of / better to (context)不如 + B (+ property), A falls short of B in the stated comparison: this这个falls short of / better to (context)不如that那个good好 — this is not as good as that.
- For a suggestion, the other option can be understood: falls short of / better to (context)不如to walk走路(suggestion)吧。 The proposed action follows falls short of / better to (context)不如.
this这个not as good as不如that那个good好。
Use the lesson target 不如 in this demonstrated example: This isn't as good as that: 这个 ____ 那个好。
A + 不如 + B + Adj = A is not as good as B: 这个不如那个好.
A favourable comparison has a named angle
- 这家店不如那家店便宜。 — This shop is not as cheap as that shop. The other shop has the price advantage in this comparison.
- The sentence does not rate service, freshness or distance. Cheaper on this comparison does not mean better in every respect.
A favourable comparison has a named angle
- 这家inn店falls short of / better to (context)不如那家店cheap / inexpensive便宜。 — This shop is not as cheap as that shop. The other shop has the price advantage in this comparison.
- The sentence does not rate service, freshness or distance. Cheaper on this comparison does not mean better in every respect.
不如走吧 means…
不如 + suggestion = “might as well”: 不如走吧.
这家店不如那家店便宜 compares which property?
便宜 specifies cheapness; the sentence supplies no judgement about service or freshness.
A suggestion can be declined
- A: 不如走路吧。 B: 我太累了，还是等车吧。 The second speaker is tired and prefers waiting for the bus.
- The original proposal remains a suggestion. The reply supplies disagreement rather than evidence that walking already happened.
A suggestion can be declined
- A: falls short of / better to (context)不如to walk走路(suggestion)吧。 B: 我太累(completed / change)了，or / still还是to wait for等war chariot (archaic)车(suggestion)吧。 The second speaker is tired and prefers waiting for the bus.
- The original proposal remains a suggestion. The reply supplies disagreement rather than evidence that walking already happened.
In 这个不如那个好, 那个 is judged better on the stated 好 comparison.
This judgement is bounded to the stated property, not every attribute.
不如走路吧 proves the listener has already agreed to walk.
It is a proposal, and agreement must come from the reply.
A suggests 不如走路吧. B replies 我太累了，还是等车吧. B agrees to walk.
B prefers waiting because they are tired, so the reply declines the proposal.
Keep the alternative when the plan changes
- The group is choosing between eating out and cooking. 不如在家做饭吧。 proposes cooking at home instead.
- It does not ban restaurants or prove cooking always costs less. Evaluate the proposal against this particular situation.
Keep the alternative when the plan changes
- The group is choosing between eating out and cooking. falls short of / better to (context)不如to be at home在家to prepare a meal做饭(suggestion)吧。 proposes cooking at home instead.
- It does not ban restaurants or prove cooking always costs less. Evaluate the proposal against this particular situation.
In a discussion of eating out versus cooking, 不如在家做饭吧 proposes…
It proposes cooking at home as the alternative; it does not ban all restaurants.
Read comparison and suggestion separately
- For A 不如 B, preserve the named property. For 不如 + action, recover the alternative from the discussion.
- A comparison is limited to its angle; a proposal is not an order, a completed action or universal agreement.
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar.
Read comparison and suggestion separately
- For A falls short of / better to (context)不如 B, preserve the named property. For falls short of / better to (context)不如 + action, recover the alternative from the discussion.
- A comparison is limited to its angle; a proposal is not an order, a completed action or universal agreement.
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar.