Introduction
比 (bǐ) is the comparison word: A 比 B 高。(A bǐ B gāo.) — A is taller than B. Slip 更 (gèng) in front of the adjective and you add one thing: B was already tall, and A is more so still.
Overview
Structure: A + 比 (bǐ) + B + (更 (gèng)) + Adj.
| Pattern | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| A + 比 + B + Adj | 我比他高。(Wǒ bǐ tā gāo.) | I'm taller than he is. |
| A + 比 + B + 更 + Adj | 我比他更高。(Wǒ bǐ tā gèng gāo.) | I'm even taller than he is. |
| A + 不比 + B + Adj | 我不比他高。(Wǒ bù bǐ tā gāo.) | I'm not taller than he is. |
| A + 没有 + B + Adj | 我没有他高。(Wǒ méiyǒu tā gāo.) | I'm not as tall as he is. |
| 更 + Adj（no 比） | 今天更冷。(Jīntiān gèng lěng.) | Today's colder still. |
很 (hěn) has no place in a 比 (bǐ) sentence:
- ✓ 我比他高。(Wǒ bǐ tā gāo.) ❌ 我比他很高。(Wǒ bǐ tā hěn gāo.)
- Outside a comparison an adjective needs 很 (hěn) to stand up — 我很高 (wǒ hěn gāo). Inside one, 比 (bǐ) does that job, so 很 is dropped.
- 更 (gèng) is allowed because it says how much more, not simply that the adjective applies.
- The same goes for 太 (tài) and 非常 (fēicháng): ❌ 我比他太高 (wǒ bǐ tā tài gāo).
Examples
我比他高。
Wǒ bǐ tā gāo.
I'm taller than he is.
今天比昨天更热。
Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān gèng rè.
Today's even hotter than yesterday.
这本书比那本更有意思。
Zhè běn shū bǐ nà běn gèng yǒu yìsi.
This book is even more interesting than that one.
他的中文比我好。
Tā de Zhōngwén bǐ wǒ hǎo.
His Chinese is better than mine.
坐飞机比坐火车更快。
Zuò fēijī bǐ zuò huǒchē gèng kuài.
Flying is even faster than taking the train.
我没有他高。
Wǒ méiyǒu tā gāo.
I'm not as tall as he is.
Usage Notes
- 更 (gèng) carries an assumption: the thing you are comparing against is already high, hot, expensive. 今天比昨天更热 (jīntiān bǐ zuótiān gèng rè) says yesterday was hot too.
- The two sides must be comparable things. 他的中文比我好 (tā de Zhōngwén bǐ wǒ hǎo) is what people say, though strictly it should be 比我的好 (bǐ wǒ de hǎo).
- The plain negative 不比 (bù bǐ) denies the comparison; 没有 (méiyǒu) says A falls short. 我不比他高 (wǒ bù bǐ tā gāo) — we may be the same; 我没有他高 (wǒ méiyǒu tā gāo) — he is taller.
- 比 (bǐ) is 3rd tone, so 不 stays bù — bù bǐ.
- To say how much more, a quantity goes after the adjective: 我比他高一点儿。(Wǒ bǐ tā gāo yìdiǎnr.) That has its own lesson.