Chinese word

比

Pronunciation

Pinyinbǐ

Meaning

  • prepositionthan

Example

这个比那个便宜。zhè ge bǐ nà ge pián yi

This one is cheaper than that one.

Illustration for 比 (than)

More examples

他跑步比我快。tā pǎo bù bǐ wǒ kuài

He runs faster than I do.

Core concept

Sets two things side by side on one scale, making a difference in degree visible.

Common phrases

  • 比...贵bǐ guì

    more expensive than ___

  • 比...高bǐ gāo

    taller than ___

  • 比...快bǐ kuài

    faster than ___

Similar words

跟gēn: Introduces a person or thing that someone is with or acts together with.
像xiàng: Introduces a person or thing that someone or something resembles.

Definition in Chinese

把两者放在一起比较某属性或程度，常用于表示“较……”，结构多为“A 比 B + 形容词”，亦可用作动词。bǎ liáng zhě fàng zài yì qǐ bǐ jiào mǒu shǔ xìng huò chéng dù cháng yòng yú biǎo shì jiào jié gòu duō wèi A bǐ B xíng róng cí yì kě yòng zuò dòng cí

Word origin

The early form of 比 (bǐ, "compare") pictured two people side by side, giving the character its basic idea of setting things together to judge their difference.

Usage tips

  • English usually places the comparison standard after the adjective, while Chinese marks that standard before the adjective, so the two sides appear in the opposite order.

Other meanings

  • compareverb

Word lists with this word