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An Introduction to Chinese Grammar 汉语语法入门

表示比较 Expressing Comparison

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In Chinese, there are many ways to express comparison, including

  1. The preposition

    Example: 这个那个。 This one is more expensive than that one.

  2. The preposition .

    Example: 一样。 You are the same as your father.

  3. The verb

    Example: 孩子一样这么说话。 You sound like a child when you talk like that.

  4. The verb

    Example: ? Are you as tall as your father?

  5. The verb 不如

    Example: 不如那么努力。 I am not as diligent as you.

  6. The adverb 越来越

    Example: 老百姓生活水平遗传。 The living standard of ordinary people has been consistently increasing.

Using to Express Comparison

The preposition can be used to express the difference in nature or degree of two people or objects. The basic form is:

Person or thing to compare (subject) + person or thing to compare (adverbial adjunct) + predicate

For example,

  1. 丝绸棉花漂亮。 Silk is more pretty than cotton.

    (The adverbial adjunct 棉花 modifies the predicate 漂亮 comparing the degree of beauty of 丝绸 and 棉花.)

  2. 朝阳区房子宣武区房子。 Homes in Chaoyang District are more expensive than homes in Xuanwu District.

    (The preposition and the endocentric phrase 宣武区房子 form a prepositional phrase. which acts as the adverbial adjunct.)

  3. 一点。 This car is a little faster than that one.

    (When the difference is small then complements of quantity, such as 一点 and 一些 are often used.)

  4. 一天一天。 Every day is better than the last.

    (To express progress the following form can be used: + measure word + + measure word + predicate.)

Using to Express Comparison

The preposition can also be used to express the diferences and similarities between two people or objects. Use to explain whether two people or things are or are not the same. Use to describe the difference more specifically. The basic form of such a sentence is:

Person or thing to compare (subject) + Person or thing to compare (adverbial adjunct) + predicate

For example,

  1. 一样。 I am the same as you.

    (The pronoun acts as the subject, the prepositional phrase is the adverbial adjunct, and the adjective 一样 is the predicate.)

  2. 味道差不多。 The flavor of this cup of tea and that cup are nearly the same.

    (Frequently used predicate adjectives include, 一样差不多、and 相同.)

Using to Express Comparison

The verb can be used to express that two people or object resemble one another. The basic form is:

Person or thing (Subject) + (predicate) + Person or thing (object)

For example,

  1. 一个小丑。 He looks like a clown.

    (The verb is used to compare the subject and the object of the sentence 小丑.)

  2. 妈妈那么爱心。 You are so compassionate, just like your mother.

    (The verb , the endocentric phrase 妈妈, and the demonstrative pronoun 那么 form the adverbial adjunct 妈妈那么. The adjective 爱心 acts as the predicate.)

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