Chinese Grammar Bank
CHINESE COMPARISON STRUCTURES
We have already learned how to use 比 in a previous article, which is a great place to start.
While 比 structures are extremely common (and helpful!), they aren’t the only way to compare two different objects in Chinese.
Now, we’ll show you two other simple patterns you can use to compare things in Mandarin Chinese.
CHINESE COMPARISON WITH 一样
一样 (yī yàng) is used to express that two things are the same in some way. It means “the same” or “identical”.
PATTERN
Noun 1 + 跟 / 和 + Noun 2 + 一样
n this comparison structure, 一样 (yī yàng) is paired with 和 (hé) or with 跟 (gēn).
You can use the two words 和 and 跟 interchangeably. Their function is to link the two elements together, while 一样 indicates you find them the same.
So you only need to place similar items on either side of 和 (跟) and then add 一样 at the end.
我跟你的愿望一样。
I have the same wish as you.他和他爸爸长得一样。
He looks just like his dad.View More Phrases
| chinese | pinyin | english |
|---|---|---|
| 这个词跟那个词的意思一样吗？ | zhè gè cí gēn nà gè cí de yì sī yī yàng ma | Does this word mean the same as that word? |
| 我的香水和你的香水一样。 | wǒ de xiāng shuǐ hé nǐ de xiāng shuǐ yī yàng | My perfume is the same as your perfume. |
| 今天的天气和昨天一样。 | jīn tiān de tiān qì hé zuó tiān yī yàng | The weather today is the same as yesterday. |
| 你现在的样子和十年前一样。 | nǐ xiàn zài de yàng zi hé shí nián qián yī yàng | You look the same now as you were ten years ago. |
You can also add an adjective after 一样 to make your comparison more specific:
PATTERN
Noun 1 + 跟 / 和 + Noun 2 + 一样 + Adjective
This describes Noun 1 as being as adjective as Noun 2. Here are more examples:
姐姐跟妹妹一样高。
The elder sister is as tall as the younger sister.今天和昨天一样冷。
Today is as cold as yesterday.View More Phrases
| chinese | pinyin | english |
|---|---|---|
| 数学和统计学一样难。 | shù xué hé tǒng jì xué yī yàng nán | Math is as hard as statistics. |
| 四川菜和湖北菜一样辣。 | sì chuān cài hé hú běi cài yī yàng là | Sichuan food is as spicy as Hubei food. |
| 我跟你一样高兴。 | wǒ gēn nǐ yī yàng gāo xìng | I am as happy as you are. |
| 妈妈做的菜和饭店做的菜一样好吃。 | mā mā zuò de cài hé fàn diàn zuò decài yī yàng hǎo chī | Mom’s cooking is as delicious as restaurant cooking. |
CHINESE COMPARISON WITH 没有
Another way to compare elements is to use 没有 (méi yǒu).
没有 can be used to express that something is “not as” adjective as something else, in the following pattern: 没有……那么 (这么).
Note that this is the same 没有 that means “not have,” used here in a different way. The sentence structure is:
PATTERN
Noun 1 + 没有 + Noun 2 + Adjective
In this structure, the first noun should be less “adjective” than the second noun. For instance, in this sentence:
- 火车没有飞机快。
- huǒ chē méi yǒu fēi jī kuài
- Trains are not as fast as planes.
The same situation could be described as:
- 飞机比火车快。
- fēi jī bǐ huǒ chē kuài
- Planes are faster than trains.
You can also choose to leave out the 有 in this pattern. Here are more examples:
黄金没有钻石贵。
Gold is not as expensive as diamonds.秋天没有夏天那么热。
Autumn is not as hot as summer.View More Phrases
| CHINESE | PINYIN | ENGLISH |
|---|---|---|
| 学习日文没有学习中文难。 | xué xí rì wén méi yǒu xué xí zhōng wén nán | Learning Japanese is not as difficult as learning Chinese. |
| 城市环境没有郊区好。 | chéng shì huán jìng méi yǒu jiāo qū hǎo | The urban environment is not as good as the suburbs. |
| 普通人的体力没有运动员好。 | pǔ tōng rén de tǐ lì méi yǒu yùn dòng yuán hǎo | The physical strength of ordinary people is not as good as that of athletes. |
| 坐公交车没有地铁快。 | zuò gōng jiāo chē méi yǒu dì tiě kuài | The bus is not as fast as the subway. |
| 4G 网络的速度没有 5G快。 | 4G wǎngluò de sùdù méi yǒu 5G kuài | 4G networks are not as fast as 5G. |
| 小猫的嗅觉没有小狗好。 | xiǎo māo de xiùjué méi yǒu xiǎo gǒu hǎo | Kittens don’t have as good a sense of smell as puppies. |
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FAQs
What does 一样 mean?
一样 (yī yàng) is used to express that two things are the same in some way. It means “the same” or “identical”.
How do you use 没有 to compare?
没有can be used to express that something is “not as” adjective as something else, in the following pattern: 没有……那么(这么).
What are some example sentences with 一样?
Here are some example sentences with 一样:
– 我跟你的愿望一样。wǒ gēn nǐ de yuàn wàng yī yàng. I have the same wish as you.
– 他和他爸爸长得一样。tā hé tā bà bà zhǎng de yī yàng. He looks just like his dad.
-这个词跟那个词的意思一样吗？zhè gè cí gēn nà gè cí de yì sī yī yàng ma. Does this word mean the same as that word?
What are some example sentences with 没有?
Here are some example sentences with 没有:
– 学习日文没有学习中文难。xué xí rì wén méi yǒu xué xí zhōng wén nán. Learning Japanese is not as difficult as learning Chinese.
– 城市环境没有郊区好。chéng shì huán jìng méi yǒu jiāo qū hǎo. The urban environment is not as good as the suburbs.
– 普通人的体力没有运动员好。pǔ tōng rén de tǐ lì méi yǒu yùn dòng yuán hǎo. The physical strength of ordinary people is not as good as that of athletes.
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