Making Comparisons in Chinese

In Authentic Street Interviews, Chinese Grammar by Angel Huang

My absolute favorite fruit is…

荔枝 lì zhī (Lychee)

And today I invite you to join me for a visit to a lychee garden in southern China. Press play 🙂

Summary: Making Comparisons in Chinese
(using the key language from the video)

​Basic Comparisons Pattern: A  比 bǐ  B + adj.

Example 1:

芒果比荔枝大 。

máng guǒ bǐ lì zhī dà. 

The mango is bigger than the lychee.

Example 2:

地铁比公交车方便。

dì tiě bǐ gōng jiāo chē fāng biàn.

The metro is more convenient than the bus.

Basic Comparisons Pattern: A  没有 méi yǒu  B + adj.

Example 1:

草莓没有荔枝甜 。

cǎo méi méi yǒu lì zhī tián. 

The strawberry is not as sweet as the lychee.

Example 2:

​​​​​​​​​​她没有她妈妈高。

tā méi yǒu tā mā mā gāo. 

She is not as tall as her mom.

Comparisons Pattern: A  比较 bǐ jiào  + adj / verb phrase.

Example 1:

荔枝比较甜。

lì zhī bǐ jiào tián.

The lychee is sweeter.

Example 2:

他比较高。他的妹妹比较矮。

tā bǐ jiào gāo. tā de mèi mèi bǐ jiào ǎi

He is taller. His sister is shorter.

Example 3:

我比较喜欢吃荔枝。因为它比较甜。

wǒ bǐ jiào xǐ huān chī lì zhī. yīn wèi tā bǐ jiào tián

I prefer to eat lychee. Because it is sweeter.

Example 4:

我比较喜欢上海。因为那里比较​现代。

wǒ bǐ jiào xǐ huān shàng hǎi. yīn wèi nà lǐ bǐ jiào xiàn dài.

I prefer Shanghai. Because it is more modern.

Using " 而 ér " to Explain Contrasting Ideas

Comparisons Pattern: Sentence 1, + 而 ér + Sentence 2

Example 1:

荔枝外面是红色的,而芒果是黄色的。

lì zhī wài miàn shì hóng sè de, ér máng guǒ shì huáng sè de.

The outside of the lychee is red while the outside of the mango is yellow.

Example 2:

我喜欢吃辣的,而我男朋友不喜欢。

wǒ xǐ huān chī là de, ér wǒ nán péng yǒu bù xǐ huān

I like spicy food, but my boyfriend doesn't.