Grammar · 语法 yǔfǎ

比

bǐ

The comparison preposition — A 比 B + Adj states that A has more of a quality than B. Not a suffix like English "-er," but a full structural element placed before the standard of comparison.

概览 gàilǎn What 比 Does
语法洞见 yǔfǎ dòngjiàn · Grammar Insight

比 bǐ is a preposition that introduces the standard of comparison — the item being compared against. The pattern is A + 比 + B + Adj, which means "A is more [Adj] than B." This is fundamentally different from English: Mandarin does not use "-er" suffixes or the word "more" before an adjective. The comparative relationship is entirely expressed by the position of 比 between the two items.

Critical rule: do not add 更 gèng (more) or 非常 fēicháng (very) immediately before the adjective in a 比 sentence. 他比我更高 is grammatically acceptable (更 can emphasize), but 他比我非常高 is wrong — 非常 and 很 are blocked in basic 比 sentences because the comparison itself already implies "more." The adjective stands alone: 他比我高 "he is taller than me."

比 is one of the most essential structures in Mandarin — used constantly in everyday comparison, preference statements, and descriptions. Understanding 比 also unlocks its negative counterpart 没有 (not as … as) and the equality structure 跟…一样 (as … as).

基本 jīběn Basic Pattern — A 比 B + Adj
基本句型 jīběn jùxíng · Core Pattern A + 比 + B + Adj → A is more [Adj] than B
他比我高。He is taller than me.
北京比上海冷。Beijing is colder than Shanghai.
这道菜比那道贵。This dish is more expensive than that one.
A + 比 + B + Adj A bǐ B + Adj A is more [Adj] than B
Structure 句型 jùxíng
The adjective at the end is unmodified by 很 or 非常 — it stands alone. The comparison is built into the structure. 比 takes the place of the English "than." The subject (A) is what is being described; 比 + B introduces the benchmark.
今天比昨天热。
Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān rè.
Today is hotter than yesterday.
她比我学得快。
Tā bǐ wǒ xué de kuài.
She learns faster than me.
这本书比那本有意思。
Zhè běn shū bǐ nà běn yǒuyìsi.
This book is more interesting than that one.
注意 zhūyì · Common Error WRONG: 他比我更高 ✗ — 更 gèng is acceptable but redundant; 非常/很 before the adj are WRONG in basic 比 sentences. The adjective stands unmodified: 他比我高 ✓
程度 chéngdù Degree Complements — By How Much
程度表达 chéngdù biǎodá · Expressing the Degree of Difference To specify how much more: add a quantity or degree word AFTER the adjective:
A + 比 + B + Adj + 一点儿 (a little) / 多了 (much more) / 得多 (a lot) / [number+measure]
他比我高一点儿。He's a little taller than me.
北京比这里冷多了。Beijing is much colder than here.
她比我大三岁。She's three years older than me.
比…多了 / 得多 bǐ… duō le / de duō much more than — expressing large degree of difference
Structure 句型 jùxíng
多了 duō le and 得多 de duō both mean "a lot more" — added after the adjective to signal a large degree of difference. 多了 is more colloquial; 得多 is slightly more formal but both are common. For small differences, use 一点儿 yīdiǎnr or 一些 yīxiē (a little).
这家餐厅比那家便宜得多。
Zhè jiā cāntīng bǐ nà jiā piányí de duō.
This restaurant is much cheaper than that one.
你现在说得比以前好多了。
Nǐ xiànzài shuō de bǐ yǐqián hǎo duō le.
You speak much better now than before.
否定 fǒudìng Negation — A 没有 B + Adj
否定句型 fǒudìng jùxíng · Negative Comparison To say "A is not as [Adj] as B" — use 没有 instead of 比:
A + 没有 + B + Adj
我没有他高。I am not as tall as him.
今天没有昨天热。Today is not as hot as yesterday.
Do NOT say 不比 for "not as … as" — 不比 A 比 B means "not more than B," a subtle different claim.
A + 没有 + B + Adj A méiyǒu B Adj A is not as [Adj] as B
Structure 句型 jùxíng
The negative comparison uses 没有, not 不比. The structure is parallel to A 比 B Adj but with 没有 replacing 比, and the meaning reverses direction. 没有 here means "does not reach the level of B" rather than its usual meaning of "not have."
这道菜没有那道好吃。
Zhè dào cài méiyǒu nà dào hǎochī.
This dish is not as delicious as that one.
我的中文没有她说得流利。
Wǒ de Zhōngwén méiyǒu tā shuō de liúlì.
My Chinese is not as fluent as hers.
相同 xiāngtóng Equality — A 跟 B 一样 + Adj
相同句型 xiāngtóng jùxíng · Expressing Equality To say "A is as [Adj] as B" — use 跟…一样:
A + 跟 + B + 一样 + Adj
他跟我一样高。He is as tall as me.
这两件衣服跟那件一样贵。These two clothes are just as expensive as that one.
Negative: A + 跟 + B + 不一样 = A and B are different (not equal)
例句 lìjù Extended Examples — Natural Contexts
比 across contexts natural usage Comparison in everyday conversation
Examples 例句
Diverse examples showing 比 in preferences, advice, descriptions, and progress contexts.
坐地铁比开车快多了。
Zuò dìtiě bǐ kāi chē kuài duō le.
Taking the subway is much faster than driving.
我觉得学语言比学数学有趣。
Wǒ juéde xué yǔyán bǐ xué shùxué yǒuqù.
I think learning languages is more interesting than learning math.
你的普通话比一年前进步了很多。
Nǐ de pǔtōnghuà bǐ yī nián qián jìnbù le hěn duō.
Your Mandarin has improved a lot compared to a year ago.
南方的冬天没有北方那么冷。
Nánfāng de dōngtiān méiyǒu běifāng nàme lěng.
Winter in the south is not as cold as in the north.