比 (bǐ) — Making Comparisons
X is [more adjective] than Y
Category: Grammar
The Rule
比 (bǐ) is the comparison word: A + 比 + B + Adjective. It means 'A is more [adjective] than B'. Do NOT add 更 (more) or 很 (very) before the adjective in basic comparisons.
Why This Matters
English says 'A is taller than B' or 'A is more expensive than B'. Chinese uses 比 in a fixed pattern that English speakers find straightforward, EXCEPT for one critical trap: you must NOT add 很 (very) or 更 (more) before the adjective. '他比我很高' is WRONG. The comparison with 比 already implies 'more', so adding extra intensifiers is redundant and ungrammatical.
Examples
• 他比我高。(Tā bǐ wǒ gāo.) — "He is taller than me." [A 比 B + adjective — no 很 needed!] • 今天比昨天冷。(Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān lěng.) — "Today is colder than yesterday." [Direct comparison: today 比 yesterday cold] • 中文比英文难。(Zhōngwén bǐ yīngwén nán.) — "Chinese is harder than English." [Comparing difficulty of two languages] • 她比我大两岁。(Tā bǐ wǒ dà liǎng suì.) — "She is two years older than me." [比 + specific amount: quantified difference]
Common Mistakes
❌ 他比我很高。(Adding 很 in a 比 sentence) ✅ 他比我高。 → This is the #1 比 mistake. 比 already means 'more than', so 很 (very) is redundant and ungrammatical. You CAN add 多了 or 得多 for 'much more': 他比我高多了。 ❌ 他比我更高。(Adding 更 in basic comparison) ✅ 他比我高。OR 他比我还高。(for surprising degree) → 更 (even more) is sometimes used for emphasis but is usually unnecessary with 比. 还 (still, even) works for 'even taller than expected'. ❌ 我比他不高。(Negating with 不 inside 比) ✅ 我没有他高。(I'm not as tall as him) → To negate a comparison, don't use 比. Use 没有: A + 没有 + B + adjective = 'A is not as [adjective] as B'.
Quick Tip
比 comparison formula: A 比 B + bare adjective. No 很, no 更. For 'much more', add 多了 or 得多 AFTER the adjective.
比 comparison formula: A 比 B + bare adjective. No 很, no 更. For 'much more', add 多了 or 得多 AFTER the adjective.
Examples
Common Mistakes
Incorrect: 他比我很高。(Adding 很 in a 比 sentence) → Correct: 他比我高。. This is the #1 比 mistake. 比 already means 'more than', so 很 (very) is redundant and ungrammatical. You CAN add 多了 or 得多 for 'much more': 他比我高多了。
Incorrect: 他比我更高。(Adding 更 in basic comparison) → Correct: 他比我高。OR 他比我还高。(for surprising degree). 更 (even more) is sometimes used for emphasis but is usually unnecessary with 比. 还 (still, even) works for 'even taller than expected'.
Incorrect: 我比他不高。(Negating with 不 inside 比) → Correct: 我没有他高。(I'm not as tall as him). To negate a comparison, don't use 比. Use 没有: A + 没有 + B + adjective = 'A is not as [adjective] as B'.
Quiz
Which is grammatically correct?