How to Compare in Chinese: 比, 沒有, and 一樣 (Without Grammar Pain)
Learn the comparison patterns you actually use in real life
比較句：比、沒有、（一樣）
Want to say “bigger than,” “not as good as,” or “the same as” in Chinese without sounding like a textbook that’s been left in the rain?
This guide gives you the exact sentence patterns with Traditional Chinese characters, pinyin (tone marks), and clear examples.
Tap the audio buttons to hear Taiwan Mandarin (zh-TW). Practice a few lines, then casually compare everything like a pro: coffee, prices, heights, deadlines… your friend’s “amazing” taste in movies.
Yak Snark
English loves “more” and “than.” Chinese loves structure. Use the structure and you’ll sound natural. Ignore it and you’ll sound like you’re translating your thoughts one painful word at a time.
Fast Visual Cards: the comparison essentials
比
than; used for “A is adj-er than B”
這家店比那家便宜。
Zhè jiā diàn bǐ nà jiā piányi.
This shop is cheaper than that one.
沒有
not as… as (and also “don’t have,” context matters)
我沒有你那麼高。
Wǒ méiyǒu nǐ nàme gāo.
I’m not as tall as you.
一樣
the same; “A is the same as B”
這杯跟那杯一樣甜。
Zhè bēi gēn nà bēi yíyàng tián.
This cup is as sweet as that one.
不一樣
different; “not the same”
這兩個口味不一樣。
Zhè liǎng ge kǒuwèi bù yíyàng.
These two flavors are different.
更
even more; “A is even adj-er”
今天比昨天更冷。
Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān gèng lěng.
Today is even colder than yesterday.
比較
relatively; comparatively
這個做法比較簡單。
Zhège zuòfǎ bǐjiào jiǎndān.
This method is relatively simple.
最
the most; superlative
這家店的麵最有名。
Zhè jiā diàn de miàn zuì yǒumíng.
This shop’s noodles are the most famous.
差不多
about the same; similar
我們的速度差不多。
Wǒmen de sùdù chàbuduō.
Our speed is about the same.
Copy-paste comparison sentences you’ll actually use
Core patterns (keep these):
A 比 B + 形容詞 → A is more adj than B.
A 沒有 B（那麼）+ 形容詞 → A is not as adj as B.
A 跟/和 B 一樣 + 形容詞 → A is as adj as B.
A 比 B + 形容詞 → A is more adj than B.
A 沒有 B（那麼）+ 形容詞 → A is not as adj as B.
A 跟/和 B 一樣 + 形容詞 → A is as adj as B.
比
我比你早到。
Wǒ bǐ nǐ zǎo dào.
I arrived earlier than you.
比 + 更
這台電腦比那台更快。
Zhè tái diànnǎo bǐ nà tái gèng kuài.
This computer is even faster than that one.
比 + 一點兒
今天比昨天熱一點兒。
Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān rè yìdiǎnr.
Today is a bit hotter than yesterday.
沒有（那麼）
這杯咖啡沒有那杯那麼甜。
Zhè bēi kāfēi méiyǒu nà bēi nàme tián.
This coffee isn’t as sweet as that one.
沒有 + 這麼
我沒有他這麼忙。
Wǒ méiyǒu tā zhème máng.
I’m not as busy as he is.
不如
這個方法不如那個方法快。
Zhège fāngfǎ bùrú nàge fāngfǎ kuài.
This method isn’t as fast as that method.
跟…一樣
這件外套跟那件一樣暖。
Zhè jiàn wàitào gēn nà jiàn yíyàng nuǎn.
This jacket is as warm as that one.
和…不一樣
他的想法和我的不一樣。
Tā de xiǎngfǎ hé wǒ de bù yíyàng.
His idea is different from mine.
差不多
這兩家餐廳的價格差不多。
Zhè liǎng jiā cāntīng de jiàgé chàbuduō.
The prices of these two restaurants are about the same.
比起…來
比起走路來，坐捷運比較快。
Bǐqǐ zǒulù lái, zuò jiéyùn bǐjiào kuài.
Compared to walking, taking the MRT is faster.
相比之下
相比之下，這個選擇比較安全。
Xiāngbǐ zhīxià, zhège xuǎnzé bǐjiào ānquán.
By comparison, this option is safer.
最
在三個方案裡，這個最省時間。
Zài sān ge fāng’àn lǐ, zhège zuì shěng shíjiān.
Among the three options, this one saves the most time.
Common mix-ups (so you don’t accidentally say you “don’t have” tall)
1) 沒有 = “don’t have” OR “not as… as.”
If there’s a comparison target (你、他、那個、那杯) and an adjective (高、甜、快), it’s usually “not as… as.”
If there’s a comparison target (你、他、那個、那杯) and an adjective (高、甜、快), it’s usually “not as… as.”
我沒有你那麼高。
Wǒ méiyǒu nǐ nàme gāo. — I’m not as tall as you.
我沒有錢。
Wǒ méiyǒu qián. — I don’t have money.
2) 比句 usually doesn’t need 很 right before the adjective.
Natural: 我比你高。 / 我比你高很多。
If you want “very,” attach the “much” to the difference, not to the adjective itself.
Natural: 我比你高。 / 我比你高很多。
If you want “very,” attach the “much” to the difference, not to the adjective itself.
我比你高很多。
Wǒ bǐ nǐ gāo hěn duō. — I’m much taller than you.
3) 一樣 needs a “buddy” word: 跟 / 和.
Most of the time you’ll say 跟/和 + someone/thing + 一樣 + adjective.
Most of the time you’ll say 跟/和 + someone/thing + 一樣 + adjective.
這個跟那個一樣好。
Zhège gēn nàge yíyàng hǎo. — This one is as good as that one.
Table of words: build comparisons like LEGO (but with fewer foot injuries)
Comparison building blocks
| Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning (EN) | Example (ZH) | Translation (EN) | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 跟 | gēn | with; as for “with/and” (used in comparisons) | 我跟你一樣喜歡茶。 | I like tea the same as you. | |
| 和 | hé | and/with (slightly more formal than 跟) | 這個和那個差不多。 | This and that are about the same. | |
| 那麼 | nàme | that (degree); “that…/so…” | 我沒有他那麼會做菜。 | I’m not as good at cooking as he is. | |
| 這麼 | zhème | this (degree); “this…/so…” | 今天沒有昨天這麼累。 | Today isn’t as tiring as yesterday. | |
| 還 | hái | even more; “still” (often with 更) | 這個還比那個更方便。 | This is even more convenient than that. | |
| 更加 | gèngjiā | even more (slightly stronger/ more formal) | 這樣做會更加安全。 | Doing it this way will be even safer. | |
| 一點兒 | yìdiǎnr | a bit; slightly | 這個比那個便宜一點兒。 | This is a bit cheaper than that. | |
| 一點點 | yìdiǎndiǎn | a tiny bit | 再甜一點點就好了。 | If it were a tiny bit sweeter, it’d be perfect. | |
| 很多 | hěn duō | a lot; much | 他比我忙很多。 | He’s much busier than me. | |
| 省時間 | shěng shíjiān | time-saving | 這條路比較省時間。 | This route is more time-saving. | |
| 比起…來 | bǐqǐ…lái | compared to… | 比起咖啡來，我更喜歡茶。 | Compared to coffee, I prefer tea more. | |
| 相比之下 | xiāngbǐ zhīxià | by comparison; comparatively | 相比之下，這家比較安靜。 | By comparison, this place is quieter. | |
| 同樣 | tóngyàng | the same; equally (more formal than 一樣) | 我們有同樣的目標。 | We have the same goal. | |
| 甚至 | shènzhì | even (to the extent that…) | 他比我早到，甚至還買了早餐。 | He arrived earlier than me and even bought breakfast. | |
| 大概 | dàgài | roughly; approximately | 這兩台的價格大概一樣。 | The prices of these two are roughly the same. |
Useful adjectives for comparisons (steal these)
| Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning (EN) | Example (ZH) | Translation (EN) | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 高 | gāo | tall; high | 他比我高。 | He is taller than me. | |
| 矮 | ǎi | short (height) | 我沒有你那麼矮啦。 | I’m not that short compared to you (kidding). | |
| 大 | dà | big | 這個房間比那個大。 | This room is bigger than that one. | |
| 小 | xiǎo | small | 這台比較小，帶出門方便。 | This one is smaller, so it’s convenient to carry out. | |
| 長 | cháng | long | 這條路比那條長。 | This road is longer than that one. | |
| 短 | duǎn | short (length/time) | 這個會議比昨天短很多。 | This meeting is much shorter than yesterday’s. | |
| 貴 | guì | expensive | 這個比那個貴一點兒。 | This is a bit more expensive than that. | |
| 便宜 | piányi | cheap; inexpensive | 網路上通常比較便宜。 | Online is usually cheaper. | |
| 快 | kuài | fast | 搭計程車比走路快。 | Taking a taxi is faster than walking. | |
| 慢 | màn | slow | 這台下載速度比較慢。 | This one’s download speed is relatively slow. | |
| 早 | zǎo | early | 你今天比我早起。 | You got up earlier than me today. | |
| 晚 | wǎn | late | 我沒有你睡得那麼晚。 | I don’t sleep as late as you do. | |
| 熱 | rè | hot | 這碗湯比那碗熱。 | This bowl of soup is hotter than that one. | |
| 冷 | lěng | cold | 山上比市區冷很多。 | Up in the mountains it’s much colder than downtown. | |
| 近 | jìn | near | 我家比你家近。 | My place is closer than yours. | |
| 遠 | yuǎn | far | 這裡沒有你想的那麼遠。 | This place isn’t as far as you think. | |
| 新 | xīn | new | 我的手機比你的新。 | My phone is newer than yours. | |
| 舊 | jiù | old (things) | 這件外套比較舊，但很舒服。 | This coat is older, but it’s very comfortable. | |
| 忙 | máng | busy | 這週我比上週忙。 | This week I’m busier than last week. | |
| 閒 | xián | free; not busy | 週末我比較閒。 | On weekends I’m relatively free. | |
| 吵 | chǎo | noisy | 這裡比那裡吵。 | It’s noisier here than there. | |
| 安靜 | ānjìng | quiet | 這間咖啡廳比較安靜。 | This café is relatively quiet. | |
| 容易 | róngyì | easy | 這題比上一題容易。 | This question is easier than the last one. | |
| 難 | nán | difficult | 中文發音沒有你想的那麼難。 | Chinese pronunciation isn’t as hard as you think. | |
| 重要 | zhòngyào | important | 健康比工作更重要。 | Health is more important than work. | |
| 有名 | yǒumíng | famous | 這家比那家有名。 | This one is more famous than that one. |
Feeling/quality words that pair nicely with 比 / 沒有 / 一樣
| Traditional Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning (EN) | Example (ZH) | Translation (EN) | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 好 | hǎo | good | 這個比那個好。 | This is better than that. | |
| 壞 | huài | bad | 這個結果沒有想像中那麼壞。 | This result isn’t as bad as imagined. | |
| 漂亮 | piàoliang | pretty | 這件比那件漂亮。 | This one is prettier than that one. | |
| 醜 | chǒu | ugly | 這個沒有那個那麼醜啦。 | This isn’t as ugly as that one (relax). | |
| 乾淨 | gānjìng | clean | 這間廁所比那間乾淨。 | This restroom is cleaner than that one. | |
| 髒 | zāng | dirty | 這裡沒有那裡那麼髒。 | It’s not as dirty here as there. | |
| 安全 | ānquán | safe | 晚上這條路比較安全。 | This road is relatively safer at night. | |
| 危險 | wéixiǎn | dangerous | 那個做法比這個危險。 | That approach is more dangerous than this one. | |
| 方便 | fāngbiàn | convenient | 住捷運站附近更方便。 | Living near an MRT station is more convenient. | |
| 麻煩 | máfan | troublesome; a hassle | 這個手續比我想的更麻煩。 | This procedure is more troublesome than I thought. | |
| 便捷 | biànjié | convenient; handy (more formal) | 線上辦理更便捷。 | Handling it online is more convenient. | |
| 舒服 | shūfu | comfortable | 這張椅子比那張舒服。 | This chair is more comfortable than that one. | |
| 累 | lèi | tired | 今天我沒有昨天那麼累。 | Today I’m not as tired as yesterday. | |
| 甜 | tián | sweet | 這個蛋糕跟那個一樣甜。 | This cake is as sweet as that one. | |
| 酸 | suān | sour | 這杯檸檬茶比那杯酸。 | This lemon tea is more sour than that one. | |
| 辣 | là | spicy | 我吃不了那麼辣的。 | I can’t handle something that spicy. | |
| 鹹 | xián | salty | 這碗湯比剛剛那碗鹹。 | This soup is saltier than the last one. | |
| 聰明 | cōngmíng | smart | 他比我聰明多了。 | He’s way smarter than me. | |
| 仔細 | zǐxì | careful; detailed | 你比我仔細。 | You’re more careful than I am. | |
| 清楚 | qīngchǔ | clear; understandable | 這個解釋比較清楚。 | This explanation is clearer. |
Optional variants (synonyms + which one to pick)
跟 (gēn) and 和 (hé) both mean “with/and.” Use either for “A 跟/和 B 一樣…”. 跟 is more everyday.
沒有 (méiyǒu) and 不如 (bùrú) both mean “not as good/as.” 不如 can feel a bit more “judgy.” Use it when you mean it.
更 (gèng) vs 比較 (bǐjiào): 更 = “even more” (stronger), 比較 = “relatively” (softer).
Yak Snark
If you only remember one thing: 比 is “A wins,” 沒有 is “A loses,” and 一樣 is “they’re tied.”
Congratulations, you now speak comparison. Go judge sandwiches responsibly.
