A + 比 + B + Adjective + Quantity
Reach for this when you want to compare two things AND specify by how much — 'A is N more X than B.' It builds on the basic 比 comparison by adding a number, an amount, or a vague quantifier (一点, 一些, 得多, 多了) at the end. This is how Chinese says 'three years older,' 'twice as expensive,' or 'a little taller.' The quantity always comes AFTER the adjective, never before it.
Structure
[A] 比 [B] [ADJECTIVE] [QUANTITY]
[A] bǐ [B] [ADJECTIVE] [QUANTITY]
How to Think About It
Chinese puts the measurement at the end, not the beginning. English says 'three years older'; Chinese says 'older by three years' — 大三岁. The adjective comes first, the quantity follows. Putting the number before the adjective (like English word order) is the single most common 比 mistake.
Examples
我哥哥比我大三岁。
Wǒ gēge bǐ wǒ dà sān suì.
My older brother is three years older than me.
这个手机比那个贵两百块。
Zhè ge shǒujī bǐ nà ge guì liǎng bǎi kuài.
This phone is two hundred yuan more expensive than that one.
今天比昨天冷一点儿。
Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān lěng yìdiǎnr.
Today is a little colder than yesterday.
Common Mistake
Learners copy English word order and put the quantity before the adjective, or insert 很/非常 to mean 'much.' 比 sentences ban degree adverbs like 很 — instead, use 得多 or 多了 at the end to mean 'much more.'
我哥哥比我很高。
我哥哥比我高得多。
Don't Confuse With
A + 比 + B + Adjective
Plain comparison without amount ('A is taller than B'). Add a quantity at the end when you want to specify HOW MUCH more.
A + 没有 + B + Adjective
Negative comparison ('A is not as X as B'). Used instead of 不比 in most cases. You can't add a specific amount the same way.
A + 跟 + B + 一样 + Adjective
Equal comparison ('A is as X as B'). Use this when there's no difference; use 比 + quantity when there is one.
Practice
Fill in the blank: 他比我高 ____ 厘米。
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五
Fill in the blank: 这本书 ____ 那本书厚一些。
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比
Arrange into a sentence: 我 / 比 / 大 / 妹妹 / 我 / 两岁
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我比我妹妹大两岁。
Translate to Chinese: This car is ten thousand yuan cheaper than that one.
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这辆车比那辆便宜一万块。
Write a sentence comparing two cities, including a specific quantity of difference.
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北京比上海冷得多。
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 1 Fluentide episode: