Comparison (比, 跟…一样, 更, 最)
A2 比较句（比、跟…一样、没有、更、最） 25 / 56
In short
To say “A is more [adjective] than B,” put 比 (bǐ, compared to) between the two nouns and drop the 很: A 比 B + Adjective - 我比你高 (Wǒ bǐ nǐ gāo, I’m taller than you). For “as [adj] as” use 跟…一样 (gēn…yíyàng), for “not as [adj] as” use 没有 (méiyǒu), and for “even more / the most” use 更 (gèng) and 最 (zuì).
The rule
Step 1 - “More than” = A 比 B + Adjective, with NO 很. The coverb 比 (bǐ) sets B as the yardstick: whatever follows is where A comes out on top. The frame is:
A + 比 + B + Adjective
我比你高 (Wǒ bǐ nǐ gāo) = “I’m taller than you.” The catch: the neutral 很 that a plain adjective needs (see Adjectival predicate and degree adverbs) is dropped inside a 比 sentence - 比 itself already means “more,” so 我比你很高 is wrong. The same goes for 太 / 非常: never put an intensifier in front of the adjective here.
Step 2 - Say by how much. To add the size of the gap, the difference goes after the adjective, not before:
- Adj + 一点儿 / 一些 - a little -er: 高一点儿 (gāo yìdiǎnr, a little taller).
- Adj + 得多 / 多了 / 很多 - much -er: 高得多 (gāo de duō, much taller), 高多了 (gāo duō le).
- Adj + [number + unit] - by an exact amount: 大三岁 (dà sān suì, three years older), 高五厘米 (gāo wǔ límǐ, 5 cm taller).
For a vaguer “even more,” put 更 (gèng) or 还 (hái) before the adjective instead: 我比你更高 (Wǒ bǐ nǐ gèng gāo, I’m even taller than you). Remember the geometry: intensifier-that-works goes after (得多, 一点儿) or you switch to 更 / 还 before; plain 很 / 太 are simply out.
Step 3 - “The same as” = A 跟 B 一样 (+ Adj). Use 跟…一样 (gēn…yíyàng) for equality. 我跟你一样高 (Wǒ gēn nǐ yíyàng gāo) = “I’m as tall as you.” Alone, 我跟你一样 (Wǒ gēn nǐ yíyàng) = “I’m the same as you.” Note 一样 is written yíyàng: the 一 shifts to 2nd tone before the 4th-tone 样. The negative is 不一样 (bù yíyàng, not the same): 我跟你不一样. Here too, 一样 links straight to the adjective - no 很 after it.
Step 4 - “Not as … as” = A 没有 B + Adj. The everyday negative comparison uses 没有 (méiyǒu), not 不比: 我没有你高 (Wǒ méiyǒu nǐ gāo) = “I’m not as tall as you.” You may add 那么 (nàme, that) for emphasis: 我没有你那么高 (Wǒ méiyǒu nǐ nàme gāo, I’m not as tall as you are).
Step 5 - “Even more / the most” = 更 and 最. 更 (gèng) marks “even more” against something already in view: 这个更好 (Zhège gèng hǎo, this one’s even better). 最 (zuì) is the superlative “most”: 这个最好 (Zhège zuì hǎo, this one’s the best), 我最喜欢中文 (Wǒ zuì xǐhuan Zhōngwén, I like Chinese the most). Both sit before the adjective or verb.
Step 6 - The 有点儿 / 一点儿 trap. Two look-alikes that are NOT interchangeable:
- 有点儿 + Adj (yǒudiǎnr) sits before the adjective and means “a bit (too) …,” almost always about something unwanted: 有点儿贵 (yǒudiǎnr guì, a bit too expensive).
- Adj + 一点儿 (yìdiǎnr) sits after the adjective and is the comparative “a little more …,” neutral, common in requests: 贵一点儿 (guì yìdiǎnr, a little more expensive).
Forms & patterns
The five comparison frames:
| Meaning | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| more than | A 比 B + Adj | 我比你高 (Wǒ bǐ nǐ gāo) - I’m taller than you |
| the same as | A 跟 B 一样 (+ Adj) | 我跟你一样高 (Wǒ gēn nǐ yíyàng gāo) - I’m as tall as you |
| not as … as | A 没有 B (那么) + Adj | 我没有你高 (Wǒ méiyǒu nǐ gāo) - I’m not as tall as you |
| even more | 更 / 还 + Adj | 这个更好 (Zhège gèng hǎo) - this one’s even better |
| the most | 最 + Adj | 这个最好 (Zhège zuì hǎo) - this one’s the best |
Degree-of-difference tails inside a 比 sentence (all sit after the adjective):
| Tail | Force | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Adj + 一点儿 / 一些 | a little -er | 高一点儿 (gāo yìdiǎnr) - a little taller |
| Adj + 得多 / 多了 / 很多 | much -er | 高得多 (gāo de duō) - much taller |
| Adj + [number + unit] | by an exact amount | 大三岁 (dà sān suì) - three years older |
The two “a little” words - position decides the meaning:
| Form | Position | Feel | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 有点儿 + Adj | before the adjective | ”a bit (too) …,” a complaint | 有点儿贵 (yǒudiǎnr guì) - a bit too expensive |
| Adj + 一点儿 | after the adjective | ”a little more …,” comparative / request | 贵一点儿 (guì yìdiǎnr) - a little pricier |
Examples
- 我比你高。 (Wǒ bǐ nǐ gāo.) - I’m taller than you.
- 今天比昨天热。 (Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān rè.) - It’s hotter today than yesterday.
- 他比我大三岁。 (Tā bǐ wǒ dà sān suì.) - He’s three years older than me.
- 这个比那个贵一点儿。 (Zhège bǐ nàge guì yìdiǎnr.) - This one is a little more expensive than that one.
- 坐地铁比开车快得多。 (Zuò dìtiě bǐ kāichē kuài de duō.) - Taking the subway is much faster than driving.
- 我跟你一样大。 (Wǒ gēn nǐ yíyàng dà.) - I’m the same age as you.
- 今天没有昨天冷。 (Jīntiān méiyǒu zuótiān lěng.) - Today isn’t as cold as yesterday.
- 这个更好。 (Zhège gèng hǎo.) - This one is even better.
- 我最喜欢喝茶。 (Wǒ zuì xǐhuan hē chá.) - I like drinking tea the most.
- 这件衣服有点儿小。 (Zhè jiàn yīfu yǒudiǎnr xiǎo.) - This piece of clothing is a bit too small.
Common mistakes
- 我比你很高。 -> 我比你高。 (Wǒ bǐ nǐ gāo.) - Never use 很 / 太 / 非常 in a 比 sentence; 比 already means “more.” To intensify, add a tail (高得多) or use 更 / 还 before the adjective.
- 我比你一点儿高。 -> 我比你高一点儿。 - The “a little” tail 一点儿 goes after the adjective, not before it.
- 我不比你高。 -> 我没有你高。 - For everyday “not as tall as,” the negative is 没有, not 不比. (不比 is a marked “no more … than” that pushes back on an assumption.)
- 今天一点儿冷。 -> 今天有点儿冷。 - “A bit too [something unwanted]” is 有点儿 + Adj (before the adjective); 一点儿 goes after and means a comparative “a little more.”
- 我跟你一样很高。 -> 我跟你一样高。 - No 很 after 一样 either; 一样 links straight to the adjective.
Tips
- The one golden rule of 比: no 很 / 太 / 非常. English “much taller” tempts you to reach for an intensifier, but 比 already carries “more” - put the amount after (高得多, 高一点儿) or switch to 更 / 还 before. This is the single most common 比 slip.
- Mnemonic for the look-alikes: 有点儿 comes before and complains (“there’s a bit of a problem”); 一点儿 comes after and compares or requests. 有点儿贵 = “a bit too pricey (ugh)”; 贵一点儿 = “a bit pricier (than the other).”
- Everyday negative = 没有, not 不比. To say “not as [adj] as,” use A 没有 B + Adj; tack on 那么 for extra force (没有你那么高).
- 比 can also compare how you do something, sitting inside a 得 manner complement: 他跑得比我快 (Tā pǎo de bǐ wǒ kuài, he runs faster than me) - that structure lives in Manner and state complement (V 得…).