CGG #119: Mastering Comparison Sentences (Part 1)
💎 Chinese Grammar Gems #119
Vacations are over and I’m back to teaching, and this week I sat down and actually mapped out what the next two months look like, which turned out to be a mistake if I wanted to feel calm about anything. I’ve got two months left in China, and between Zhangjiajie in two weeks, job interviews to prepare for my return to France, end of semester exams to grade in mid-June, and then hopefully a couple of weeks in Yunnan before flying back, there’s a lot to fit in and very little room for things to go sideways.
And yet, honestly, I’m not sure I’d change much about how this year went. There’s always the feeling that you should have traveled more, or worked more, or rested more, but the reality is this year has been one of the most interesting and useful of my life in ways I didn’t fully anticipate when I landed in Beijing in October. You make compromises, some things don’t happen, and that’s fine.
What I do know is that the next weeks are going to move fast, and I want to make the most of them. On that note, I’ve also been quietly finishing something I’ve been working on for longer than I’d like to admit, something aimed at people who want to start Mandarin properly, and I’ll tell you about it on Monday.
Today we’re looking at comparison sentences, which have a satisfyingly different logic in Mandarin compared to European languages.
💎 This Week’s Gem: Mastering Comparison Sentences (Part 1) 💎
Comparing things comes up constantly in real conversation: prices, ages, distances, the weather, how busy you are. Mandarin handles all of this with a small set of patterns, but they look very different from English, and that’s exactly where you’re likely to get stuck.
This lesson covers the three core patterns you need for almost any comparison: 比 (bǐ) for “more than,” 没有 (méiyǒu) for “not as…as,” and 一样 (yīyàng) for “the same as.” Along the way, we’ll address the most common mistake about word order, and the two booster words that turn a comparison up a notch.
Next week we’ll look at how to specify the size of the gap and how to compare actions.
⚖️ The Default Pattern with 比
To say A is “more X than” B in Mandarin, put A first, then 比 (bǐ), then B, and finally the adjective. The adjective lands at the very end of the sentence, with nothing in front of it.
📚 Structure: [A] + 比 + [B] + [Adjective]
Example
这家店比那家贵。
这 / 家 / 店 / 比 / 那 / 家 / 贵 / 。
Zhè jiā diàn bǐ nà jiā guì.
This shop is more expensive than that one.
this / (measure word 家 for shops) / shop / (comparison marker 比) / that / (measure word 家) / expensive
Notice that 贵 stands alone at the end. In a normal sentence about how expensive something is, you would say 这家店很贵 (zhè jiā diàn hěn guì), with 很 in front. But once you put a 比 in the sentence, that 很 has to go. This is the most common mistake learners make with comparisons, so it deserves its own section.
🚫 Why You Don’t Use 很 After 比
If you translate from English in your head, you’ll want to say things like 比那家很贵 because “very expensive” sounds natural to your ear. In Mandarin, this is wrong. After 比, you don’t use 很 (hěn), 非常 (fēicháng), 特别 (tèbié), or any other plain intensity word.
The reason is simple: a 比 sentence already carries the idea of degree. The comparison itself is doing the work. Adding 很 would be like saying “more very expensive,” which doesn’t make sense in any language.
You may remember from CGG #65–66 that 很 usually fills a grammatical slot before plain adjectives in everyday sentences like 我很高 or 她很忙. Inside a 比 sentence, that slot is already filled by the comparison.
Example
❌ 他比我很高。
✅ 他比我高。
Tā bǐ wǒ gāo.
He is taller than me.
If you want to say how much taller, that’s a different tool, which we’ll cover next week. For now, the rule is simple: after 比, the adjective stands alone.
🙅 Saying “Not As…As” with 没有
To say A is “not as X as” B, Mandarin uses 没有, or just 没 (méi) in casual speech. The structure mirrors the 比 pattern, with 没有 sitting in the middle instead.
📚 Structure: [A] + 没有 + [B] + [Adjective]
Example
这间房没有那间大。
这 / 间 / 房 / 没有 / 那 / 间 / 大 / 。
Zhè jiān fáng méiyǒu nà jiān dà.
This room is not as big as that one.
this / (measure word for rooms 间) / room / (not as…as marker 没有) / that / (measure word 间) / big
For extra emphasis, you can insert 那么 (nàme) or 这么 (zhème) before the adjective. This makes the inferiority feel more pronounced:
这间房没有那间那么大。
Zhè jiān fáng méiyǒu nà jiān nàme dà.
This room isn’t nearly as big as that one.
A close alternative is 不像……那么…… (búxiàng……nàme……), which means “not like…in that way.” It’s useful when the comparison is more about resemblance than measurement: 他不像他哥哥那么高 (tā búxiàng tā gēge nàme gāo), “he’s not as tall as his older brother.” In daily speech, both patterns are common.
For most everyday comparisons, 没有 is your first choice. Later in the sequence we’ll meet two other ways to express inferiority, but each carries a slightly different feel that we’ll address when the time comes.
🔍 Need to review a pattern?
Head to chinesegrammargems.com. Every lesson we’ve covered is searchable, organized by topic, and available as a printable PDF.
🪞 Matching Things with 跟……一样
To say two things are the same, Mandarin connects them with 跟 (gēn) or 和 (hé), and then puts 一样 at the end.
📚 Structure: [A] + 跟/和 + [B] + 一样
Example
我的手机跟你的一样。
我 / 的 / 手机 / 跟 / 你 / 的 / 一样 / 。
Wǒ de shǒujī gēn nǐ de yīyàng.
My phone is the same as yours.
I / (modification particle 的) / phone / (comparison connector 跟) / you / (modification particle 的) / same
Without an adjective after 一样, the sentence says the two things are equivalent in some general way (status, type, situation, or appearance), and context tells you which one.
To match a specific quality, add the adjective at the end:
📚 Structure: [A] + 跟/和 + [B] + 一样 + [Adjective]
Example
我跟她一样忙。
我 / 跟 / 她 / 一样 / 忙 / 。
Wǒ gēn tā yīyàng máng.
I’m just as busy as she is.
I / (comparison connector 跟) / her / equally / busy
To say two things are not the same, place 不 right before 一样: 我的看法跟你的不一样 (wǒ de kànfǎ gēn nǐ de bù yīyàng), “my view isn’t the same as yours.”
A more formal cousin is 相同 (xiāngtóng), which sounds careful and written. You’ll see it in reports, contracts, and academic prose: 我们的想法相同 (wǒmen de xiǎngfǎ xiāngtóng), “our ideas are the same.” In conversation, stick with 一样.
❓ Asking If Two Things Are Equal with 有
When you ask whether A reaches the same level as B in some quality, Mandarin doesn’t use 一样 in the question. Instead, it uses 有 (yǒu) with a question particle like 吗 (ma) at the end.
📚 Structure: [A] + 有 + [B] + [Adjective] + 吗 ?
Example
你有他高吗？
你 / 有 / 他 / 高 / 吗 / ？
Nǐ yǒu tā gāo ma?
Are you as tall as he is?
you / (equivalency marker 有) / him / tall / (question particle 吗)
A literal translation (“Do you have his tallness?”) sounds odd, but this is the natural Mandarin way to ask. For stronger framing, you can add 这么 or 那么 before the adjective to mean “as much as that”:
你有他那么快吗？
Nǐ yǒu tā nàme kuài ma?
Are you as fast as he is?
Replies usually come back through 没有 or 一样:
我没有他高。 (Wǒ méiyǒu tā gāo.) “I’m not as tall as him.”
我跟他一样高。 (Wǒ gēn tā yīyàng gāo.) “I’m as tall as he is.”
This 有 question pattern is one of the small things that makes spoken Mandarin sound natural. You’ll often want to reach for 一样 in a question, but native speakers really do phrase it this way.
🌟 Going One Notch Up: 更 and 还
Once a plain 比 sentence feels too flat, you can raise the degree with 更 (gèng) or 还 (hái). Both sit between B and the adjective.
📚 Structure: [A] + 比 + [B] + 更 / 还 + [Adjective]
更 is the neutral choice. It works in writing, speech, and any register without sounding marked:
他的手机比我的更贵。
Tā de shǒujī bǐ wǒ de gèng guì.
His phone is even more expensive than mine.
还 carries more emotional weight. It often signals surprise, mild frustration, or a personal reaction. It feels more spoken and more vivid:
今天比昨天还冷。
今天 / 比 / 昨天 / 还 / 冷 / 。
Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān hái lěng.
Today is even colder than yesterday.
today / (comparison marker 比) / yesterday / even more / cold
A practical rule: if you want a calm, factual comparison, choose 更. If you want to sound surprised or impressed by how much more it is, 还 fits better. In essays and reports, 更 is the safer default. In lively conversation, 还 often sounds more natural.
One thing to keep in mind is that 更 and 还 both live inside the 比 structure. You can’t drop the 比 and just say 他更贵 as a comparison unless the context already tells you what he’s being compared with. The comparison frame still needs to be there, even if it’s implied from what was said before.
Curious about your Mandarin mastery?
How many words, characters, or chengyu can you recognize?
📝 Recap
Using 比 (bǐ): The default pattern for saying A is “more X than” B, with the adjective standing alone at the end. Never add 很, 非常, or other intensity words after 比, since the comparison already carries the idea of degree.
Using 没有 (méiyǒu): Expresses “not as…as,” mirroring the 比 structure. Add 那么 (nàme) or 这么 (zhème) before the adjective for emphasis, or reach for the close alternative 不像……那么…… when the comparison leans more on resemblance than measurement.
Using 跟/和……一样 (gēn/hé……yīyàng): Connects two things to say they’re the same, either in a general sense or, with an adjective at the end, in a specific quality. Negate with 不一样, and switch to the more formal 相同 (xiāngtóng) in written or academic contexts.
Using 有 (yǒu) in questions: The natural way to ask if A reaches B’s level in some quality, ending with 吗 and optionally adding 这么/那么 before the adjective. Replies usually come back through 没有 or 一样, not through 有 itself.
Using 更 (gèng) and 还 (hái): Both sit between B and the adjective inside a 比 sentence to mean “even more.” 更 is the neutral, all-purpose choice, while 还 carries emotional weight, surprise, or a personal reaction, and feels more spoken and vivid.
⛏️ Practice Makes Perfect
Now it’s time to put these comparison patterns to work! Mandarin gives you several ways to compare things, and the right choice depends on whether you’re stating a fact, expressing surprise, asking a question, or pointing out similarity. Try translating these sentences and pay attention to which pattern best fits the situation. And don’t forget, after 比 the adjective stands alone, with no 很 in front of it!
🌱 Easy
This dish is even tastier than that one!
My phone isn’t as new as yours.
This book is just as good as that one.
Taking the bus is faster than walking.
🌳 Advanced
Beijing’s old hutongs are quieter than the streets downtown.
Yunnan’s winter isn’t nearly as harsh as I’d imagined.
The dialect spoken in Guangzhou is completely different from Mandarin.
Reading Tang poetry helps me understand Chinese culture even more deeply than watching costume dramas does.
🌟 Practice More with Pearls of Mandarin 🌟
When I was learning Mandarin, practicing regularly was the key that unlocked fluency for me. I’d love for you to have that same experience. That’s why I created the Pearls of Mandarin Worksheets.
Here’s how each resource in the subscription supports your journey:
PM Translation (Saturdays) – Each Saturday, you’ll get two sets of translation exercises from English to Mandarin:
🌱 Easy (HSK 2-3-4) – Great for mastering foundational grammar.
🌳 Advanced (HSK 4-5-6) – Perfect if you’re looking for deeper fluency and subtle nuances.
Each worksheet comes with detailed corrections and clear grammar explanations, helping you craft natural and authentic sentences. With practice, you’ll confidently translate grammar knowledge into real-life Mandarin skills.
PM Comprehension (Sundays) – Each Sunday, you’ll receive two comprehension texts with audio at both natural and slow speeds, full pinyin, and translations:
🌱 Easy (HSK 2-3-4) – Ideal for developing solid listening and comprehension skills.
🌳 Advanced (HSK 4-5-6) – Great if you’re ready to challenge yourself further.
These texts include vocabulary lists, HSK-style comprehension questions, and grammar notes, designed to boost your listening abilities and vocabulary in context.
Complete Access to the CGG Archive – With a paid subscription, you’ll unlock full access to the entire CGG library, including over 115 grammar lessons. Free subscribers only see the latest lesson, but this archive lets you revisit essential grammar anytime. Plus, you’ll get access to chinesegrammargems.com to quickly find exactly what you need and review easily past lessons. This includes a 400+ pages PDF recap file.
If you think this could help in your journey as it helped in mine, subscribe to receive these resources in your inbox every weekend.
I’m here to share what I’ve learned and to support you as you make your way towards mastery.
That’s a wrap for today!
This weekend, look out for your PM Translation and PM Comprehension worksheets. They’ll give you the chance to apply what you’ve learned and keep improving your Mandarin skills.
Happy learning,
Pierre 🐼