HSK 2 grammar · new HSK syllabus
比: comparing two things
A 比 B + adjective = A is more … than B: 他比我高. Never put 很 in a 比 sentence.
Structure
- A + 比 + B + adjective
- A + 比 + B + adjective + 一点儿 / 多了 / number
How it works
A 比 B + adjective says that A has more of a quality than B: 今天比昨天冷 = today is colder than yesterday.
To say how much more, add a word after the adjective: 一点儿 (a little), 多了 or 得多 (much), or an exact amount: 他比我大两岁.
Don’t use 很, 非常 or 太 before the adjective in a 比 sentence. To say “even more”, use 更 or 还: 他比我还高.
Examples
-
今天比昨天冷。
Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān lěng.
Today is colder than yesterday.
-
我哥哥比我高一点儿。
Wǒ gēge bǐ wǒ gāo yìdiǎnr.
My older brother is a little taller than me.
-
坐地铁比打车便宜多了。
Zuò dìtiě bǐ dǎchē piányi duō le.
Taking the subway is much cheaper than a taxi.
-
她比我大两岁。
Tā bǐ wǒ dà liǎng suì.
She is two years older than me.
-
这家饭馆比那家好吃。
Zhè jiā fànguǎn bǐ nà jiā hǎochī.
This restaurant’s food is better than that one’s.
Words in these examples (23)
| 今天 | jīntiān | today | HSK 1 |
| 比 | bǐ | to compare; (in comparisons) than | HSK 2 |
| 昨天 | zuótiān | yesterday | HSK 1 |
| 冷 | lěng | cold | HSK 1 |
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 哥哥 | gēge | older brother | HSK 1 |
| 高 | gāo | tall; high | HSK 2 |
| 一点儿 | yìdiǎnr | a little; a bit | HSK 1 |
| 坐 | zuò | to sit; to take (bus, plane) | HSK 1 |
| 地铁 | dìtiě | subway; metro | HSK 2 |
| 打车 | dǎchē | to take a taxi | HSK 2 |
| 便宜 | piányi | cheap | HSK 1 |
| 多 | duō | many; much; (in questions) how | HSK 1 |
| 了 | le | (particle marking a completed action or a change) | HSK 1 |
| 她 | tā | she; her | HSK 1 |
| 大 | dà | big; large; old (age) | HSK 1 |
| 两 | liǎng | two (before a measure word) | HSK 1 |
| 岁 | suì | years (of age) | HSK 1 |
| 这 | zhè | this | HSK 1 |
| 家 | jiā | home; family; (measure word for shops and companies) | HSK 1 |
| 饭馆 | fànguǎn | restaurant | HSK 2 |
| 那 | nà | that; then | HSK 1 |
| 好吃 | hǎochī | tasty; delicious | HSK 1 |
Common mistakes
-
✗他比我很高。
✓他比我高。
比 sentences don’t take 很.
-
✗他高比我。
✓他比我高。
Order: A 比 B + adjective.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 我的手机 你的新。
2. 今天比昨天热 。
3. 他比我 三岁。