Introduction
比 (bǐ) says two things are different. 一样 (yíyàng) says they are the same: 我跟他一样高。(Wǒ gēn tā yíyàng gāo.) — He and I are the same height. The frame is fixed — A 跟 B 一样 — and the adjective, if there is one, comes last.
Overview
Structure: A + 跟 (gēn) / 和 (hé) + B + 一样 (yíyàng) (+ Adj.)
| Pattern | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| A 跟 B 一样 | 我的书跟你的一样。(Wǒ de shū gēn nǐ de yíyàng.) | My book is the same as yours. |
| A 跟 B 一样 + Adj | 我跟他一样高。(Wǒ gēn tā yíyàng gāo.) | He and I are the same height. |
| A 和 B 一样 + Adj | 今天和昨天一样热。(Jīntiān hé zuótiān yíyàng rè.) | Today's as hot as yesterday. |
| A 跟 B 不一样 | 这个跟那个不一样。(Zhège gēn nàge bù yíyàng.) | This one isn't the same as that one. |
| 一样 + 的 + N | 一样的衣服 (yíyàng de yīfu) | the same clothes |
一样 (yíyàng) is where the comparison words differ:
- 我比他高。(Wǒ bǐ tā gāo.) — I'm taller. A difference.
- 我跟他一样高。(Wǒ gēn tā yíyàng gāo.) — We're the same height. No difference.
- 我没有他高。(Wǒ méiyǒu tā gāo.) — I'm not as tall as he is. A difference the other way.
- The negative is 不一样 (bù yíyàng), and 不 goes before 一样, not before the adjective: ✓ 跟他不一样高 (gēn tā bù yíyàng gāo) ❌ 跟他一样不高 (gēn tā yíyàng bù gāo), which means "equally short".
Examples
我跟他一样高。
Wǒ gēn tā yíyàng gāo.
He and I are the same height.
今天和昨天一样热。
Jīntiān hé zuótiān yíyàng rè.
It's as hot today as it was yesterday.
我的书跟你的一样。
Wǒ de shū gēn nǐ de yíyàng.
My book is the same as yours.
这个跟那个不一样。
Zhège gēn nàge bù yíyàng.
This one is not the same as that one.
他的中文跟中国人一样好。
Tā de Zhōngwén gēn Zhōngguó rén yíyàng hǎo.
His Chinese is as good as a native speaker's.
我们穿着一样的衣服。
Wǒmen chuān zhe yíyàng de yīfu.
We're wearing the same clothes.
Usage Notes
- 跟 (gēn) and 和 (hé) are interchangeable here. 跟 is more spoken, especially in the north.
- 一样 (yíyàng) is read yíyàng — 样 (yàng) is 4th tone, so 一 (yī) shifts to yí.
- With no adjective, 一样 (yíyàng) alone means "the same": 我的跟你的一样。(Wǒ de gēn nǐ de yíyàng.)
- To modify a noun, add 的 (de): 一样的衣服 (yíyàng de yīfu) — the same clothes，一样的问题 (yíyàng de wèntí) — the same question.
- Unlike a 比 (bǐ) sentence, 很 (hěn) is still barred: ❌ 我跟他一样很高 (wǒ gēn tā yíyàng hěn gāo).