Want to say "My brother is taller than me" or "This book is more interesting than that one" in Chinese? You need 比 (bǐ) comparison sentences.
Comparisons are essential for IGCSE Chinese exams and everyday conversation. This guide teaches you everything about 比 sentences, including how to express degrees of difference and when to use alternative structures like 跟...一样.
Basic 比 Structure
Formula:
A + 比 + B + Adjective
(A is more [adjective] than B)
10 Essential Examples:
1. 我比他高。(Wǒ bǐ tā gāo.)
I am taller than him.
2. 这本书比那本书有趣。(Zhè běn shū bǐ nà běn shū yǒuqù.)
This book is more interesting than that book.
3. 今天比昨天冷。(Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān lěng.)
Today is colder than yesterday.
4. 她比我聪明。(Tā bǐ wǒ cōngming.)
She is smarter than me.
5. 北京比上海大。(Běijīng bǐ Shànghǎi dà.)
Beijing is bigger than Shanghai.
6. 中文比英文难。(Zhōngwén bǐ Yīngwén nán.)
Chinese is harder than English.
7. 我的房间比你的房间干净。(Wǒ de fángjiān bǐ nǐ de fángjiān gānjìng.)
My room is cleaner than your room.
8. 这个苹果比那个苹果甜。(Zhège píngguǒ bǐ nàge píngguǒ tián.)
This apple is sweeter than that apple.
9. 弟弟比哥哥矮。(Dìdi bǐ gēge ǎi.)
Younger brother is shorter than older brother.
10. 夏天比冬天热。(Xiàtiān bǐ dōngtiān rè.)
Summer is hotter than winter.
⚠️ Important Rule:
Do NOT use 更 (gèng) or 很 (hěn) after 比. Just use the adjective directly.
❌ Wrong: 我比他很高
✅ Correct: 我比他高
Expressing Degree of Difference
Want to say HOW MUCH more? Add degree words after the adjective:
1. 比...多 (bǐ...duō) - More by a specific amount
Formula: A + 比 + B + Adjective + Specific Amount
我比他高五厘米。(Wǒ bǐ tā gāo wǔ límǐ.)
I am 5 cm taller than him.
她比我大两岁。(Tā bǐ wǒ dà liǎng suì.)
She is 2 years older than me.
这件衣服比那件贵十块钱。(Zhè jiàn yīfu bǐ nà jiàn guì shí kuài qián.)
This clothing is 10 yuan more expensive than that one.
2. 比...一点儿 (bǐ...yìdiǎnr) - A little bit more
Formula: A + 比 + B + Adjective + 一点儿
我比他高一点儿。(Wǒ bǐ tā gāo yìdiǎnr.)
I am a little bit taller than him.
这个比那个便宜一点儿。(Zhège bǐ nàge piányi yìdiǎnr.)
This one is a little bit cheaper than that one.
今天比昨天暖和一点儿。(Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān nuǎnhuo yìdiǎnr.)
Today is a little bit warmer than yesterday.
3. 比...得多 (bǐ...de duō) - Much more
Formula: A + 比 + B + Adjective + 得多
我比他高得多。(Wǒ bǐ tā gāo de duō.)
I am much taller than him.
中文比英文难得多。(Zhōngwén bǐ Yīngwén nán de duō.)
Chinese is much harder than English.
这本书比那本书有趣得多。(Zhè běn shū bǐ nà běn shū yǒuqù de duō.)
This book is much more interesting than that book.
Negative Comparisons
不比 (bù bǐ) - Not more than
Use 不比 to say A is NOT more [adjective] than B (but they might be equal or B might be more).
我不比他高。(Wǒ bù bǐ tā gāo.)
I am not taller than him. (We might be the same height, or he's taller)
这个不比那个贵。(Zhège bù bǐ nàge guì.)
This one is not more expensive than that one.
没有 (méiyǒu) - Not as...as
Use 没有 to say A is NOT AS [adjective] AS B (B is definitely more).
Formula: A + 没有 + B + (这么/那么) + Adjective
我没有他高。(Wǒ méiyǒu tā gāo.)
I am not as tall as him. (He is taller)
今天没有昨天冷。(Jīntiān méiyǒu zuótiān lěng.)
Today is not as cold as yesterday.
这本书没有那本书有趣。(Zhè běn shū méiyǒu nà běn shū yǒuqù.)
This book is not as interesting as that book.
🔍 Key Difference:
不比: Uncertain comparison (might be equal or opposite)
没有: Clear comparison (B is definitely more)
比 with Verbs
You can also use 比 to compare actions, not just qualities:
Formula: A + 比 + B + Verb + Complement
他比我跑得快。(Tā bǐ wǒ pǎo de kuài.)
He runs faster than me.
她比我说得好。(Tā bǐ wǒ shuō de hǎo.)
She speaks better than me.
我比他起得早。(Wǒ bǐ tā qǐ de zǎo.)
I wake up earlier than him.
弟弟比哥哥吃得多。(Dìdi bǐ gēge chī de duō.)
Younger brother eats more than older brother.
跟/和...一样 (gēn/hé...yíyàng) - Same as
When things are EQUAL (not more or less), use 跟...一样 instead of 比:
Formula: A + 跟/和 + B + 一样 + (Adjective)
Examples:
我跟他一样高。(Wǒ gēn tā yíyàng gāo.)
I am as tall as him. (Same height)
这本书和那本书一样有趣。(Zhè běn shū hé nà běn shū yíyàng yǒuqù.)
This book is as interesting as that book.
今天跟昨天一样冷。(Jīntiān gēn zuótiān yíyàng lěng.)
Today is as cold as yesterday.
她和我一样喜欢音乐。(Tā hé wǒ yíyàng xǐhuan yīnyuè.)
She likes music as much as I do.
Negative Form: 不一样
我跟他不一样高。(Wǒ gēn tā bù yíyàng gāo.)
I am not as tall as him. (Different heights)
这个和那个不一样。(Zhège hé nàge bù yíyàng.)
This one and that one are not the same.
📊 Comparison Summary:
比: A is MORE than B
没有: A is LESS than B
跟...一样: A is THE SAME AS B
Complex Comparisons
More than / Less than with Numbers:
多 (duō) - More than
他有一百多本书。(Tā yǒu yìbǎi duō běn shū.)
He has more than 100 books.
以上 (yǐshàng) - Above / More than
十八岁以上 (shíbā suì yǐshàng)
18 years old and above
以下 (yǐxià) - Below / Less than
十八岁以下 (shíbā suì yǐxià)
Below 18 years old
Superlatives (The Most):
最 (zuì) - The most
他是班上最高的学生。(Tā shì bān shàng zuì gāo de xuésheng.)
He is the tallest student in the class.
最...之一 (zuì...zhī yī) - One of the most
中文是世界上最难的语言之一。(Zhōngwén shì shìjiè shàng zuì nán de yǔyán zhī yī.)
Chinese is one of the hardest languages in the world.
Practice Exercises
Translate these sentences using 比 or 跟...一样:
1. My sister is younger than me.
Answer: 我妹妹比我小。
2. This movie is more boring than that movie.
Answer: 这部电影比那部电影无聊。
3. I am as busy as him.
Answer: 我跟他一样忙。
4. Today is much hotter than yesterday.
Answer: 今天比昨天热得多。
5. This book is not as expensive as that book.
Answer: 这本书没有那本书贵。
IGCSE Exam Connection
- ✓ Comparison sentences appear frequently in Paper 3 (Speaking) and Paper 4 (Writing)
- ✓ Using 比 correctly shows advanced grammar knowledge
- ✓ Examiners look for variety—use 比, 没有, and 跟...一样
- ✓ Common speaking topics: comparing cities, schools, hobbies, family members
- ✓ Practice comparing things naturally in conversation
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