比
Reach for 比 whenever you want to say one thing exceeds another on some measurable trait — faster, cheaper, taller, more crowded. It is the default comparison word in Mandarin and replaces English '-er than.' The structure is rigid: A goes first, B follows 比, and the adjective lands at the end. No 'is' verb, no '更' before the adjective in the base form. Once you know this slot pattern, you can build dozens of comparisons in everyday speech, news, and writing.
Structure
[A] 比 [B] [ADJ] ([DEGREE])
[A] bǐ [B] [ADJ]
How to Think About It
Think of 比 as the equals sign in a comparison: it points from A to B, and the adjective on the right tells you which direction A wins. Crucially, do NOT add 很 or 非常 before the adjective — Chinese already implies 'more' from the 比 itself. Degree information (a lot, a little, by ten seconds) attaches AFTER the adjective, not before it.
Examples
他比我高。
Tā bǐ wǒ gāo.
He is taller than me.
今天比昨天冷一点。
Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān lěng yìdiǎn.
Today is a little colder than yesterday.
这本书比那本书贵很多。
Zhè běn shū bǐ nà běn shū guì hěn duō.
This book is much more expensive than that one.
Common Mistake
Learners coming from English often paste 很 in front of the adjective, mirroring 'A is very faster than B.' In a 比 sentence, 很 is ungrammatical — the comparison already does the work. Use 多了 or a concrete amount after the adjective instead.
中国的车比德国的车很便宜。
中国的车比德国的车便宜很多。
Don't Confuse With
A 没有 B (这么/那么) [ADJ]
Use this when A falls short of B, not exceeds it — the negative comparison.
A 跟 B 一样 [ADJ]
Use this when A and B are equal on the trait, not when one beats the other.
A 比 B 更 [ADJ]
Add 更 only when B is already known to be high on the trait and you want 'even more so'; in plain comparison, drop 更.
Practice
Fill in the blank: 我哥哥 ___ 我大三岁。
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比
Fill in the blank: 北京比上海 ___ （cold）。
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冷
Arrange: 妹妹 / 比 / 高 / 我
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妹妹比我高。
Translate into Chinese: His car is cheaper than mine.
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他的车比我的车便宜。
Write one sentence comparing two cities using 比.
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上海比南京大很多。