Chinese (Mandarin)/Grammar/Comparisons

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[edit] Simple comparisons

The primary word used for a comparison of two things (bigger, older, etc) is 比 (bǐ). A simple comparison is constructed as X 比 Y SV.

他比小明高。
Ta bi Xiao Ming gao.
He is taller than Xiao Ming.

Taken literally, this means that he, when compared with Xiao Ming, is tall.

[edit] Negative comparisons

A simple comparison can be negated by prepending 不 to 比:

他不比小明高。
Ta bu bi Xiao Ming gao.
He is not taller than Xiao Ming.
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