Chinese word

相比

Pronunciation

Pinyinxiāng bǐ

Meaning

  • prepositioncompared to

Example

相比去年，今年的雨水更多。xiāng bǐ qù nián jīn nián de yú shuǐ gèng duō

Compared to last year, there is more rain this year.

Illustration for 相比 (compared to)

More examples

和以前相比，他的中文进步了很多。hé yǐ qián xiāng bǐ tā de zhōng wén jìn bù le hěn duō

Compared to before, his Chinese has improved a lot.

Core concept

One situation is viewed against another as a backdrop, bringing their difference into focus.

Common phrases

  • 和以前相比hé yǐ qián xiāng bǐ

    compared to before

  • 与去年相比yǔ qù nián xiāng bǐ

    compared to last year

Similar words

比bǐ: Uses one thing as a basis for showing how another is more, less, or otherwise different.
相较于xiāng jiào yú: Introduces a reference point for showing how another thing differs in amount, degree, or situation.

Definition in Chinese

作为介词，用来把某事物与另一事物对照，以说明二者在数量、程度或情况上的差别。zuò wéi jiè cí yòng lái bǎ mǒu shì wù yǔ lìng yí shì wù duì zhào yǐ shuō míng èr zhě zài shù liàng chéng dù huò qíng kuàng shàng de chā bié

Word origin

相比 (xiāngbǐ, "compare with each other") is formed from 相 (xiāng, "each other") + 比 (bǐ, "compare"), giving the word a built-in sense of comparing one thing with another.

Usage tips

  • Chinese often puts the comparison frame before the main statement, a pattern that differs from the more flexible placement of comparison phrases in English.

Other meanings

  • compareverb

Word lists with this word