HSK 2 grammar · new HSK syllabus
没有 in comparisons: not as … as
A 没有 B + adjective = A is not as … as B: 我没有他高.
Structure
- A + 没有 + B + (这么 / 那么) + adjective
How it works
The usual way to say “A is not as … as B” is 没有, not 不比: 北京没有上海热 = Beijing isn’t as hot as Shanghai.
这么 or 那么 before the adjective adds “so”: 我没有你那么忙.
The positive form is A 有 B 这么 / 那么 + adjective, mostly in questions: 他有你这么高吗？
Examples
-
我没有他高。
Wǒ méiyǒu tā gāo.
I’m not as tall as him.
-
今天没有昨天那么冷。
Jīntiān méiyǒu zuótiān nàme lěng.
Today isn’t as cold as yesterday.
-
坐公交车没有坐地铁快。
Zuò gōngjiāochē méiyǒu zuò dìtiě kuài.
The bus isn’t as fast as the subway.
-
我的汉语没有你说得好。
Wǒ de Hànyǔ méiyǒu nǐ shuō de hǎo.
My Chinese isn’t as good as yours.
-
你的房间有我的这么大吗？
Nǐ de fángjiān yǒu wǒ de zhème dà ma?
Is your room as big as mine?
Words in these examples (23)
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 没有 | méiyǒu | not have; there isn't; did not | HSK 1 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 高 | gāo | tall; high | HSK 2 |
| 今天 | jīntiān | today | HSK 1 |
| 昨天 | zuótiān | yesterday | HSK 1 |
| 那么 | nàme | so; like that; then | HSK 2 |
| 冷 | lěng | cold | HSK 1 |
| 坐 | zuò | to sit; to take (bus, plane) | HSK 1 |
| 公交车 | gōngjiāochē | bus | HSK 2 |
| 地铁 | dìtiě | subway; metro | HSK 2 |
| 快 | kuài | fast; quick; soon | HSK 2 |
| 的 | de | (particle linking a describer to a noun, like "'s") | HSK 1 |
| 汉语 | Hànyǔ | Chinese (language) | HSK 1 |
| 你 | nǐ | you | HSK 1 |
| 说 | shuō | to say; to speak | HSK 1 |
| 得 | de | (particle after a verb before a description of how it is done, as in 说得很好) | HSK 2 |
| 好 | hǎo | good; well | HSK 1 |
| 房间 | fángjiān | room | HSK 1 |
| 有 | yǒu | to have; there is | HSK 1 |
| 这么 | zhème | so; this (much) | HSK 2 |
| 大 | dà | big; large; old (age) | HSK 1 |
| 吗 | ma | (question particle for yes/no questions) | HSK 1 |
Common mistakes
-
✗我不比他高。（meaning “not as tall”）
✓我没有他高。
“Not as … as” is 没有; 不比 means something slightly different.
-
✗我没有他很高。
✓我没有他高。
No 很 in comparisons.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 我的电脑 你的新。
2. 这个房间没有那个 大。
3. 今天 昨天热。