Chinese grammar / 42 topics
Comparisons in Chinese grammar
Learn Chinese comparisons through sentence patterns, rewritten explanations, pinyin and English examples. Browse 42 grammar topics.
二、两 èr liǎng
二 vs 两: Choosing Èr or Liǎng for Two in Chinese
Learn when Chinese uses 二 and when it uses 两, covering numbers, dates, ordinals, quantities with classifiers, and two o'clock.
一样 yíyàng
Say two things are alike with 一样
Compare equal qualities, matching sizes, and other shared features.
比 bǐ
Compare two things with 比
Say which route is shorter, which bag is lighter, or what feels different today.
没有…那么… méiyǒu… nàme…
Say “not as…as” with 没有…那么…
Explain that one thing has less of a quality than another.
不 · 没 bù · méi
Choose between 不 and 没
Ask what you are denying: a preference or general statement, an event that did not happen, or possession.
会 · 能 huì · néng
Choose 会 or 能 for “can”
Separate knowing how to do something from being able to do it in the circumstances.
要、想 yào xiǎng
要 vs 想: Wanting, Intending and Missing in Chinese
Compare 要 and 想 before nouns and verbs, distinguish firmer intentions from gentler wishes, and recognize 想要 as another expression of desire.
有…那么 yǒu…nàme
有 in Chinese Comparisons: As…As and Reaching a Standard
Use 有 + reference + adjective to ask whether something reaches another’s degree, and recognize expanded patterns with 那么 or 这么.
跟…比 gēn…bǐ
跟…比: Starting a Chinese Comparison with Compared With
Frame Chinese comparisons with 跟…比 or 跟…比起来, placing the reference first before explaining a difference or preference.
更、还 gèng, hái
更 and 还 in 比 Comparisons: Even More in Chinese
Add 更 or 还 before an adjective in a 比 sentence to emphasize a stronger degree relative to the comparison standard.
得多、多了 de duō, duō le
Much More in Chinese Comparisons: 很多, 得多, and 多了
Emphasize a large difference in Chinese by placing 很多, 得多, or 多了 after an adjective in a comparison sentence.
常常、经常 chángcháng, jīngcháng
常常 vs 经常: Two Ways to Say Often in Chinese
Compare 常常 and 经常 as frequency adverbs, including ordinary word order, negation, and 经常 in modifier expressions.
刚、刚才 gāng, gāngcái
刚 vs 刚才: Just Happened and Just Now in Chinese
Distinguish adverb 刚 from time word 刚才 by word order, relative recency, noun modification, and interaction with aspect.
有点、一点 yǒudiǎn, yīdiǎn
有点 vs 一点: A Little, Slightly More, and Not at All
Choose 有点 before descriptions and 一点 after comparative or request adjectives, and recognize their different negative patterns.
还是、或者 háishì, huòzhě
还是 vs 或者: Asking a Choice or Listing Possibilities
Use 还是 in alternative questions and 或者 in statements of possibilities, including questions embedded inside larger sentences.
人家、别人 rénjia, biérén
人家 vs 别人: Other People and Colloquial Pronoun Uses
Compare 人家 and 别人 for others, and recognize 人家 as a context-dependent reference to a specific person or the speaker.
之间、中间 zhījiān, zhōngjiān
之间 vs 中间: Between, the Middle, and Relationships
Distinguish 之间 and 中间 for spaces, intervals, ranges, and relationships, including when 中间 can stand alone.
离、从 lí, cóng
离 vs 从: Distance From and Starting From in Chinese
Use 离 to measure separation and 从 to introduce a starting point or source in space, time, and other relationships.
以后、的时候 yǐhòu, de shíhou
以后 vs 的时候: After an Event or When It Happens
Choose 以后 for a later stage and 的时候 for the time of an event or state, even when English uses when for both.
比起；相比 bǐqǐ; xiāngbǐ
比起…来 and 相比: Make Chinese Comparisons
Use 比起…来 and 与…相比 to establish a comparison point before describing a difference, judgment, or preference.
不如 bùrú
不如 (Bùrú): Not as Good as and Better To
Learn how 不如 compares quality or degree and how its suggestion use introduces a preferable course of action.
不比；没有 bù bǐ; méiyǒu
不比 (Bù Bǐ) versus 没有: No More or Not As
Distinguish 不比 from 没有 in Chinese comparisons, including reassuring phrases that deny someone is worse than another person.
本来；原来 běnlái; yuánlái
本来 versus 原来: Originally, All Along, or It Turns Out
Distinguish 本来 for original plans or inherent facts from 原来 for discoveries and former states, including common 就 and 的 patterns.
才；就 cái; jiù
才 versus 就: Late, Early, Only, and Already
Compare 才 and 就 for timing and quantity, and learn why 才 before a clock time can mean it is only that early.
再；又 zài; yòu
再 versus 又: Two Ways to Say Again in Chinese
Choose 再 or 又 for repetition, distinguish planned repeats from recurring events, and recognize 又 with future expectations.
总算；终于 zǒngsuàn; zhōngyú
总算 versus 终于: Finally in Chinese
Compare 总算 and 终于 when an event happens after waiting or difficulty, including differences in relief, emphasis, and register.
跟；对 gēn; duì
跟 versus 对: With Someone or Toward Someone
Distinguish 跟 and 对 in speech, interaction, comparisons, and attitudes, and learn where their uses overlap.
朝；向；往 cháo; xiàng; wǎng
朝, 向, and 往: Toward in Chinese
Compare 朝, 向, and 往 for movement, facing a target, and abstract direction, including common verb-plus-direction combinations.
对；对于 duì; duìyú
对 versus 对于: Overlapping Uses and Key Differences
Learn where 对 and 对于 both introduce a relevant object, and why 对 also appears in treatment, facing, and matching expressions.
对于；至于 duìyú; zhìyú
对于 versus 至于: Regarding or As For
Compare 对于 for a relevant object with 至于 for shifting a topic, and recognize 至于 in expressions about degree.
给；为 gěi; wèi
给 versus 为: Two Meanings of For in Chinese
Choose 给 for recipients and directed services, or 为 for benefits, purposes, duties, and emotional responses in common expressions.
关于；对于 guānyú; duìyú
关于 versus 对于: About a Topic or Regarding an Object
Distinguish 关于 for subject matter from 对于 for the object of a response, and use 关于…的 before a noun.
适合；合适 shìhé; héshì
适合 versus 合适: Suit Someone or Be Suitable
Distinguish the verb 适合, which takes a person or purpose as its object, from the adjective 合适, meaning suitable.
平时；平常 píngshí; píngcháng
平时 versus 平常: Usually or Ordinary
Use 平时 and 平常 for usual circumstances, and recognize 平常 as an adjective meaning ordinary or commonplace.
以后；之后 yǐhòu; zhīhòu
以后 versus 之后: After, Later, or In the Future
Compare 以后 and 之后 after an event or time, and distinguish their standalone meanings of in the future and after that.
以后；然后；后来 yǐhòu; ránhòu; hòulái
以后, 然后, and 后来: After, Then, and Later
Choose 以后 for an after-reference or future time, 然后 for sequence, and 后来 for a later development in a past account.
看起来；看来 kànqǐlái; kànlái
看起来 versus 看来: Looks Like or It Seems
Distinguish an appearance or impression with 看起来 from an inference with 看来, including 在…看来 for someone's perspective.
显得；看起来 xiǎnde; kànqǐlái
显得 versus 看起来: Appear or Look a Certain Way
Compare 显得 for a quality made apparent by context with 看起来 for an observed impression, without treating either as guaranteed fact.
不断；不停 bùduàn; bùtíng
不断 versus 不停: Repeatedly or Without Stopping
Compare 不断 and 不停 for continuing actions, repeated developments, and the expressive verb + 个不停 pattern.
一直；一向 yīzhí; yīxiàng
一直 versus 一向: Continuously or Habitually
Use 一直 for continuation over time or along a direction, and 一向 for a longstanding habit, attitude, or characteristic.
彼此；对方 bǐcǐ; duìfāng
彼此 versus 对方: Each Other or the Other Person
Distinguish reciprocal 彼此 from 对方 for the other party, including their positions before verbs, after verbs, and before nouns.
反而；相反 fǎn'ér; xiāngfǎn
反而 versus 相反: Unexpected Reversal or Opposite
Distinguish adverbial 反而 from 相反 as a sentence transition or adjective, including opposite opinions and directions.