Welcome to Master Chinese Comparatives!
Making comparisons is one of the most powerful grammar tools you will learn for GCSE Chinese (1CN0). Whether you are describing your family in the Speaking test (Paper 2), understanding an article in the Reading exam (Paper 3), or writing a top-scoring essay in Writing (Paper 4), being able to say that something is bigger, more expensive, the most delicious, or just as fun will boost your marks significantly!
Don't worry if Chinese word order feels a bit back-to-front at first. By breaking down each pattern step-by-step with clear formulas, you will master them in no time.
1. The Core Comparative: 比 (bǐ) — "More... Than..."
In English, we say "A is bigger than B". In Chinese, we place the comparison marker 比 (bǐ) right between the two things we are comparing.
The Basic Formula
\(\text{Subject A} + \text{比 (bǐ)} + \text{Subject B} + \text{Adjective}\)
Simplified: 他比我高。
Traditional: 他比我高。
Pinyin: Tā bǐ wǒ gāo.
Literal Translation: He compared-to me is tall.
Natural English: He is taller than me.
Simplified: 苹果比西瓜便宜。
Traditional: 蘋果比西瓜便宜。
Pinyin: Píngguǒ bǐ xīguā piányi.
Natural English: Apples are cheaper than watermelons.
Comparing Actions with Degree Complements (得)
When comparing how well or quickly someone does an action, you use the degree complement marker 得 (de). You can place 比 either before or after the verb phrase:
• Pattern 1: \(\text{Subject A} + \text{Verb} + \text{得} + \text{比} + \text{Subject B} + \text{Adjective}\)
• Pattern 2: \(\text{Subject A} + \text{比} + \text{Subject B} + \text{Verb} + \text{得} + \text{Adjective}\)
Examples:
• 他跑得比我快。 (Tā pǎo de bǐ wǒ kuài. — He runs faster than I do.)
• 他比我跑得快。 (Tā bǐ wǒ pǎo de kuài. — He runs faster than I do.)
Key Takeaway for 比: Think of 比 as an arrow pointing from Item A to Item B. Item A always has "more" of the quality that comes at the end of the sentence!
2. Comparisons with Quantities and Degree Modifiers
What if you want to say how much taller or more expensive something is? In Chinese, exact numbers and general degree words go in specific spots.
A. Specific Quantities (Put it AFTER the Adjective)
To state an exact difference (e.g., 2 years, 50 yuan, 3 kilos), place the number and measure word at the very end of the sentence:
\(\text{Subject A} + \text{比} + \text{Subject B} + \text{Adjective} + \text{Number + Measure Word / Quantity}\)
• Simplified: 哥哥比弟弟大两岁。
• Traditional: 哥哥比弟弟大兩歲。
Pinyin: Gēge bǐ dìdi dà liǎng suì.
Meaning: Older brother is two years older than younger brother.
• Simplified: 这件衣服比那件贵五十块。
• Traditional: 這件衣服比那件貴五十塊。
Pinyin: Zhè jiàn yīfu bǐ nà jiàn guì wǔshí kuài.
Meaning: This piece of clothing is 50 yuan more expensive than that one.
B. General Degree Words: "A Little" vs "A Lot" (Put AFTER the Adjective)
When you don't have an exact number, use these useful modifiers right after the adjective:
• 一点儿 / 一點兒 (yīdiǎnr): a little bit
• 一些 (yīxiē): a bit / somewhat
• 得多 (de duō): much more
• 多了 (duō le): a lot more
\(\text{Subject A} + \text{比} + \text{Subject B} + \text{Adjective} + \begin{cases} \text{一点儿 / 一點兒} \\ \text{一些} \\ \text{得多} \\ \text{多了} \end{cases}\)
• Simplified: 今天比昨天冷一点儿。
• Traditional: 今天比昨天冷一點兒。
Meaning: Today is a little colder than yesterday.
• Simplified: 在医院做培训比在教室学习好多了。
• Traditional: 在醫院做培訓比在教室學習好多了。
Meaning: Training in a hospital is much better than studying in a classroom.
C. Adding "Even More": 更 (gèng) and 还 / 還 (hái)
If Subject B is already tall/fast/expensive, but Subject A exceeds it even further, place 更 or 还 before the adjective:
\(\text{Subject A} + \text{比} + \text{Subject B} + \text{更 / 还} + \text{Adjective}\)
• Example: 他很高，但是他弟弟比他更高。
Meaning: He is tall, but his younger brother is even taller.
Key Takeaway for Modifiers:
• Specific numbers and a little / a lot (一点儿, 得多) go AFTER the adjective.
• Even more (更, 还) goes BEFORE the adjective.
3. Relative Comparison: 比较 / 比較 (bǐjiào) — "Relatively / Quite"
比较 / 比較 (bǐjiào) acts as an adverb. It means "fairly", "quite", or "comparatively". You use it when you are talking about one item in general without naming a second item in the same sentence.
The Formula
\(\text{Subject} + \text{比较 / 比較 (bǐjiào)} + \text{Adjective / Verb of Feeling}\)
• Simplified: 这本书比较容易。
• Traditional: 這本書比較容易。
Pinyin: Zhè běn shū bǐjiào róngyì.
Meaning: This book is relatively / quite easy.
• Simplified: 我比较喜欢看电影。
• Traditional: 我比較喜歡看電影。
Pinyin: Wǒ bǐjiào xǐhuān kàn diànyǐng.
Meaning: I relatively prefer / quite like watching movies.
Memory Trick: 比较 is a one-man show! It does not like sharing a clause with 比.
4. Superlatives: 最 (zuì) — "The Most / -est"
To say something is the absolute best, biggest, or most favourite, use 最 (zuì) directly in front of the adjective or emotion verb.
The Formula
\(\text{Subject} + \text{最 (zuì)} + \text{Adjective / Mental Verb (+ Noun)}\)
• Simplified: 经验是最重要的。
• Traditional: 經驗是最重要的。
Pinyin: Jīngyàn shì zuì zhòngyào de.
Meaning: Experience is the most important.
• Simplified: 他是我们班最高的人。
• Traditional: 他是我們班最高的人。
Pinyin: Tā shì wǒmen bān zuì gāo de rén.
Meaning: He is the tallest person in our class.
• Simplified: 我最喜欢吃中国菜。
• Traditional: 我最喜歡吃中國菜。
Pinyin: Wǒ zuì xǐhuān chī Zhōngguó cài.
Meaning: I like eating Chinese food the most.
Key Takeaway for 最: Whenever you want to share your favourite hobby, subject, or sport in Paper 2 Speaking, use 我最喜欢... (wǒ zuì xǐhuān...)!
5. Expressing Equality & Inequality: 跟 / 和…一样 / 一樣
What if two things are the same? Or not as good as each other? Here are the essential patterns you need.
A. Stating Equality: "A is the same as B"
\(\text{Subject A} + \text{跟 / 和} + \text{Subject B} + \text{一样 / 一樣 (+ Adjective)}\)
• Without Adjective: 他的书包和我的一样。 (His schoolbag is the same as mine.)
• With Adjective: 我跟他一样高。 (I am as tall as he is.)
B. Stating Difference: "A is not the same as B"
\(\text{Subject A} + \text{跟 / 和} + \text{Subject B} + \text{不一样 / 不一樣 (+ Adjective)}\)
• Simplified: 英国的天气跟中国的天气不一样。
• Traditional: 英國的天氣跟中國的天氣不一樣。
Meaning: The weather in the UK is different from the weather in China.
• With Adjective: 他跑得跟我手一样快 / 他跑得跟我手不一樣快。 (He doesn't run at the same speed as me.)
C. Saying "Not as... as...": 没有 / 沒有 (méiyǒu)
To say that Subject A is less [adjective] than Subject B, use 没有:
\(\text{Subject A} + \text{没有 / 沒有} + \text{Subject B} + (\text{这么 / 那么}) + \text{Adjective}\)
• Simplified: 我没有他那么高。
• Traditional: 我沒有他那麼高。
Pinyin: Wǒ méiyǒu tā nàme gāo.
Meaning: I am not as tall as him.
6. Common GCSE Pitfalls & Examiner Warnings
Examiners spot these common errors every year. Study these traps to avoid losing easy marks!
Trap 1: Putting 很 (hěn) or 非常 (fēicháng) after 比
• Incorrect: *我比他很高。 / *我比他非常大。
• Why it's wrong: 比 already shows a comparative difference. You cannot use absolute words like 很 (very), 非常 (extremely), or 太 (too) with it.
• Correct way: 我比他高得多 (He is much taller) or 我比他更高 (He is even taller).
Trap 2: Translating English Word Order for Quantities
• Incorrect: *我比他两岁大。 (Translating: "I am than him two years older")
• Correct way: 我比他大两岁。 (Subject A + 比 + Subject B + Adjective + Quantity)
Trap 3: Mixing 比 and 比较 in the Same Clause
• Incorrect: *我比他比较高。
• Why it's wrong: 比 introduces a direct comparison against a person/thing; 比较 means "relatively" on its own.
• Correct way: Use either 我比他高 (I am taller than him) or 我比较高 (I am relatively tall).
Trap 4: English Word Order with 跟 / 和... 一样
• Incorrect: *我的手机是一样跟他的。 (Translating: "My phone is the same as his")
• Correct way: 我的手机跟他的（手机）一样。
Trap 5: 不比 vs. 没有
• A 不比 B + Adj: Means "A is not any more [Adj] than B" (often used to contradict someone: "I'm not shorter than you!").
• A 没有 B + Adj: Standard way to express "A is not as [Adj] as B" (A is less than B).
7. Quick Revision Checklist
Use this summary to test yourself before your exams:
• A > B: \(\text{A} + \text{比} + \text{B} + \text{Adj}\) (我比他大)
• A > B by [X]: \(\text{A} + \text{比} + \text{B} + \text{Adj} + \text{Quantity / 一点儿 / 得多}\) (我比他大三岁)
• A is even more: \(\text{A} + \text{比} + \text{B} + \text{更 / 还} + \text{Adj}\) (他比我更高)
• Relatively: \(\text{Subject} + \text{比较} + \text{Adj}\) (这件比较贵 — NO 比!)
• The Most: \(\text{Subject} + \text{最} + \text{Adj / Verb}\) (我最喜欢中文)
• A = B: \(\text{A} + \text{跟 / 和} + \text{B} + \text{一样 (+ Adj)}\) (我跟他一样高)
• A < B: \(\text{A} + \text{没有} + \text{B} + \text{Adj}\) (我没有他高)