The 比 (bǐ) Comparison in Chinese
比
The 比 sentence compares two things: A 比 B + adjective means "A is more ... than B". The adjective stands alone — degree adverbs like 很, 非常 or 太 can never sit before it. To say by how much, add an amount after the adjective, such as 一点 or 得多.
Published July 7, 2026
Reviewed July 7, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
A + 比 + B + Adjective (+ 一点 / 得多)
Read the structure
The 比 sentence compares two things: A 比 B + adjective means "A is more ... than B". The adjective stands alone — degree adverbs like 很, 非常 or 太 can never sit before it. To say by how much, add an amount after the adjective, such as 一点 or 得多. Keep the model A + 比 + B + Adjective (+ 一点 / 得多) visible while you compare each sentence.
他比我高。
He is taller than me.
Choose the right context
Comparing two people or things directly: 他比我高。 Saying by how much — the amount goes after the adjective: 高一点, 高得多, 大三岁。 Comparing times or situations: 今天比昨天冷。
今天比昨天冷。
Today is colder than yesterday.
Respect the boundary
Never put 很 / 非常 / 太 before the adjective: 他比我很高 is always wrong. To say "A is not as ... as B", use 没有: 我没有他高 — not 不比. To say two things are equal, switch patterns: A 跟 B 一样高, not 比. 不比 exists, but it means "not necessarily more than" — it pushes back on someone's claim rather than stating a plain comparison.
他比我很高。
(He is very taller than me.)
Repair the pattern
Degree adverb before the adjective: The 比 pattern already means "more", so 很 and 非常 clash with it. To intensify, put the amount after the adjective instead: 他比我高得多. 不比 used where 没有 is meant: Plain "less than" takes the 没有 pattern. 不比 has a narrower job — disagreeing with a claim ("not necessarily more than") — and 不 never sits inside 比…高.
他比我高。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
他比我高。
He is taller than me.
他
A
This part occupies the A position in the model pattern.
比
比
This part occupies the 比 position in the model pattern.
我
B
This part occupies the B position in the model pattern.
高
Adjective (
This part occupies the Adjective ( position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
他比我高。
He is taller than me.
今天比昨天冷。
Today is colder than yesterday.
他比我高一点。
He is a little taller than me.
他比我大三岁。
He is three years older than me.
这个比那个贵得多。
This one is much more expensive than that one.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Comparing two people or things directly: 他比我高。
- Saying by how much — the amount goes after the adjective: 高一点, 高得多, 大三岁。
- Comparing times or situations: 今天比昨天冷。
Do not use it when
- Never put 很 / 非常 / 太 before the adjective: 他比我很高 is always wrong.
- To say "A is not as ... as B", use 没有: 我没有他高 — not 不比.
- To say two things are equal, switch patterns: A 跟 B 一样高, not 比.
- 不比 exists, but it means "not necessarily more than" — it pushes back on someone's claim rather than stating a plain comparison.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
他比我很高。
他比我高。
Degree adverb before the adjective
The 比 pattern already means "more", so 很 and 非常 clash with it. To intensify, put the amount after the adjective instead: 他比我高得多.
我比他不高。
我没有他高。
不比 used where 没有 is meant
Plain "less than" takes the 没有 pattern. 不比 has a narrower job — disagreeing with a claim ("not necessarily more than") — and 不 never sits inside 比…高.
他比我很高。
Drop 很 — degree adverbs cannot modify the adjective in a 比 comparison: 他比我高。
她比我非常忙。
非常 cannot sit before the adjective; to intensify, say 她比我忙得多。
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 比.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 比. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
The 比 (bǐ) Comparison Questions
Why is 他比我很高 wrong?
The 比 pattern itself already means "more". Degree adverbs like 很 conflict with that built-in scale. Say 他比我高, or 他比我高得多 for a big difference.
How do I say "a little taller" or "much taller"?
Put the amount after the adjective: 高一点 (a little), 高得多 (much), or an exact measure like 高三厘米 (3 cm taller).
How do I negate a 比 comparison?
Use 没有: 我没有他高 means "I'm not as tall as he is". 不比 usually means "not necessarily more than" and sounds like you're correcting what someone said.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Construction index and function chapters relevant to 比
Supports the learner-facing account of where 比 appears and what communicative job it performs.
Official sourceChinese: A Comprehensive Grammar, 2nd ed.
Yip and Rimmington · Routledge · 2016
Locator: Relevant sentence and clause chapters for 比
Cross-checks the A + 比 + B + Adjective (+ 一点 / 得多) pattern, clause relationship, and limits represented by the reviewed examples.
Official sourceChinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 2 grammar inventory
Supports directory placement at HSK 2; it does not independently prove usage rules.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Compare
越…越…越...越... (yuè...yuè...)
Contrast a fixed 比 standard with linked change in degree through 越来越.
Compare
小数、分数、百分数和倍数Decimals, Fractions, Percentages, and Multiples
Contrast action-degree comparison with precise numerical difference expressions.
Continue learning
比较句4：动词得字句比 Comparisons with Verb 得
Apply 比 to action degree by adding a verb and 得 complement.
Compare
形容词＋数量补语Quantity Complements after Adjectives
Contrast verb-degree comparison with complements that specify a measured difference.
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Contrast a fixed 比 standard with linked change in degree through 越来越.