than; to compare
HSK level
比 is written with 4 strokes. The animation replays automatically.
比 (bǐ) is the Chinese comparison word — the equivalent of English 'than' — but its grammar flips the English pattern in a way every learner has to memorize.
The basic structure is A 比 B + ADJECTIVE: 我比他高 ('I am taller than him,' literally 'I compare-to him tall'). Crucially, you do NOT add 很 ('very'): 他比我高很 is wrong. To add degree, use 一点 ('a little'), 得多 ('much more'), or a specific amount: 他比我高一点 ('a little taller'), 他比我高得多 ('much taller'), 他比我高五厘米 ('five centimeters taller').
Negation uses 没有 instead of 不: 我没有他高 ('I'm not as tall as him') — never 我不比他高 in basic comparisons. 比 also works as a verb meaning 'to compare' (比一比 'compare them') and appears in compounds like 比赛 ('competition, match') and 比如 ('for example'). Sports scores read with 比: 三比二 ('three to two').
我比他高。
Wǒ bǐ tā gāo.
I'm taller than him.
neutral
今天比昨天冷。
Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān lěng.
Today is colder than yesterday.
neutral
他汉语说得比我好。
Tā Hànyǔ shuō de bǐ wǒ hǎo.
He speaks Chinese better than I do.
neutral
这个比那个便宜一点。
Zhège bǐ nàge piányi yìdiǎn.
This one is a little cheaper than that one.
spoken
他比我大三岁。
Tā bǐ wǒ dà sān suì.
He's three years older than me.
spoken
比较 has two uses: as a verb 'to compare' (比较两个方法) and as an adverb meaning 'relatively / fairly' (比较好 'fairly good'). 比 specifically introduces the second item in a comparison (A 比 B). Different jobs.
To say 'A is NOT as ADJECTIVE as B,' use A 没有 B + ADJ — not 不比. 我没有他高 ('I'm not as tall as him'). 比 makes the positive comparison; 没有 makes the negative one.
Same pinyin and tone but different character. 笔 means 'pen / writing brush.' 比 is the comparison word. They are visually distinct but homophones.
Acquire it by listening
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