Chinese word

不如

Pronunciation

Pinyinbù rú

Meaning

  • verbnot be as good as

Example

他跑得不如我。tā pǎo de bù rú wǒ

He does not run as well as I do.

Illustration for 不如 (not be as good as)

More examples

他的答案不如你的。tā de dá àn bù rú nǐ de

His answer is not as good as yours.

Core concept

A comparison line that shows a gap and can turn into a proposal for a different action.

Common phrases

  • 他不如她tā bù rú tā

    He falls short of her

  • 不如去问老师bù rú qù wèn lǎo shī

    better ask the teacher

  • 做得不如你zuò de bù rú nǐ

    do it less well than you

Similar words

比bǐ: Compare people or things to show which is better or how much they differ.
没有méi yǒu: Not have as much of a quality or amount as the person or thing used for comparison.
比不上bǐ bú shàng: Be unable to match the level or ability of the person or thing used as the standard.

Definition in Chinese

既可表示在程度或能力上不及对方，也可在口语中用作提案，常以“不如+动词”表达建议。jì kě biǎo shì zài chéng dù huò néng lì shàng bù jí duì fāng yě kě zài kóu yǔ zhōng yòng zuò tí àn cháng yǐ bù rú dòng cí biǎo dá jiàn yì

Word origin

不 (bù, "not") + 如 (rú, "be like") forms 不如 (bùrú, "not be as good as"), and this comparison later developed a spoken use for suggesting another action.

Usage tips

  • For comparisons, Chinese puts the standard after 不如 (bùrú, "not be equal to"), so the first person or thing is the one that falls short; this order helps prevent reversed meanings.

Other meanings

  • fall short ofverb
  • might as wellconjunction

Word lists with this word