# Chinese Preposition 比 (bǐ) for Comparisons | HSK 2 Grammar Guide | HSKReady Canonical: https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-2-introducing-a-target-g025 Language: en Content ID: web-grammar-hsk-2-g025 HSK levels: 2 Updated: 2026-10-23T04:55:37.344Z Scope: published website educational content; full vocabulary, question bank and mock exams remain in the app. Learn how to use the Chinese preposition 比 (bǐ) to introduce an object of comparison at the HSK 2 level, including sentence word order, degree modifiers, and common mistakes. Grammar [HSK 2 · Word classes › Prepositions › Introducing a target](https://hskready.app/en/grammar/hsk-2#hsk-2-g025) # Using the Preposition 比 (bǐ) to Introduce a Target of Comparison in Chinese 比 (bǐ) introduces the benchmark in a Chinese comparison. In the basic pattern A + 比 + B + adjective, 比 + B comes before the adjective; an English than-phrase normally follows the comparative adjective. Subject A 比 Object B (Comparison Target) Adjective Example sentence 今天比昨天热。 Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān rè. Today is hotter than yesterday. Basic comparison: the prepositional phrase 比昨天 (bǐ zuótiān) comes immediately before the adjective 热 (rè). A common mistake × 今天比昨天很热。 Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān hěn rè. Incorrect: Today is very hotter than yesterday. Incorrect: Do not use the general degree adverb 很 (hěn) before the adjective in a 比 (bǐ) comparison. Replace this with 今天比昨天热 (Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān rè). Corrected example: 今天比昨天热。 **Read the full explanation and examples** ## What Does the Preposition 比 (bǐ) Do? In the HSK 2 grammar outline, 比 (bǐ) is classified as a preposition (介词, jiècí) whose specific role is to introduce an object or target (引出对象, yǐnchū duìxiàng). While English speakers often translate 比 (bǐ) simply as the word than, thinking of it strictly as an equivalent to than often leads to word-order mistakes. In this comparison, 比 combines with the benchmark to form 比 + B. Put that phrase before the adjective describing A: 今天比昨天热. This rule concerns the comparison pattern taught here; Chinese also has other constructions in which a preposition or its phrase follows a verb. ## Basic Sentence Structure and Word Order To build a standard comparative sentence, place the subject first, follow it immediately with 比 (bǐ) and the target of comparison, and put the adjective at the end of the clause. Subject A 比 Object B (Comparison Target) Adjective 今天比昨天热。 Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān rè. Today is hotter than yesterday. Basic comparison: the prepositional phrase 比昨天 (bǐ zuótiān) comes immediately before the adjective 热 (rè). Notice that the adjective 热 (rè, hot) does not change its form. Chinese adjectives do not take suffixes like -er in hotter. The comparative meaning is already fully established by the prepositional phrase 比昨天 (bǐ zuótiān, compared to yesterday) sitting in front of the adjective. Both Subject A and Object B must belong to the same logical category. If you compare today's weather to yesterday's weather, you can simply say 今天 (jīntiān, today) and 昨天 (zuótiān, yesterday) because both are time nouns representing the weather on those days. ## Expressing Degree and Avoiding Common Adverb Errors In a neutral descriptive sentence, 很 often links a subject with an adjective without strongly stressing very: 今天很热 can mean Today is hot. In the basic 比 comparison taught here, do not insert 很 or 非常 directly before the adjective: 今天比昨天很热 is unsuitable for the intended ordinary comparison. Use 今天比昨天热, or state the size of the difference after 热. × 今天比昨天很热。 Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān hěn rè. Incorrect: Today is very hotter than yesterday. Incorrect: Do not use the general degree adverb 很 (hěn) before the adjective in a 比 (bǐ) comparison. Replace this with 今天比昨天热 (Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān rè). Corrected example: 今天比昨天热。 If you want to specify whether the difference between Subject A and Object B is small or large, you place a degree complement after the adjective instead of an adverb before it. Common HSK 2 expressions for this include 一点儿 (yīdiǎnr, a little bit) for a slight difference, and 多了 (duō le, much more) for a large difference. Subject A 比 Object B (Comparison Target) Adjective Degree Complement 哥哥比弟弟高一点儿。 Gēge bǐ dìdi gāo yīdiǎnr. The older brother is a little bit taller than the younger brother. Adding 一点儿 (yīdiǎnr) after the adjective 高 (gāo) indicates a small difference in degree. 飞机比火车快多了。 Fēijī bǐ huǒchē kuài duō le. Airplanes are much faster than trains. Adding 多了 (duō le) after the adjective 快 (kuài) indicates a large difference between the two items. 更 (gèng, even more) and 还 (hái, still more) can precede the adjective in a 比 comparison. They emphasize the relative increase; the sentence does not require both items to meet an absolute threshold for that quality. Compare the position of 更 or 还 before the adjective with 一点儿 or 多了 after it. ## Using 不比 (bù bǐ) to Express 'Not More Than' To deny that A exceeds B using the 不比 pattern, put 不 immediately before 比: A + 不比 + B + adjective. This instruction concerns 不比; it is not a ban on all other negative predicates or comparison constructions. Subject A 不比 Object B (Comparison Target) Adjective 这家店的咖啡不比那家店贵。 Zhè jiā diàn de kāfēi bù bǐ nà jiā diàn guì. This shop's coffee is no more expensive than that shop's. 不比 denies that the first item exceeds the second. This coffee may be the same price or cheaper; the sentence alone does not establish equality. Pay close attention to the exact meaning of 不比 (bù bǐ). It is used to refute an assumption that Subject A exceeds Object B. Saying that this shop's coffee is 不比 (bù bǐ) that shop's coffee expensive usually means they are roughly the same price (or at least that this one is not pricier). In everyday speech, if your goal is to state clearly that Subject A is less expensive or less tall than Object B, speakers frequently choose a different pattern using 没有 (méiyǒu), whereas 不比 (bù bǐ) specifically denies superiority or excess. ## Distinguishing 比 (bǐ) from Other Object-Introducing Prepositions Chinese has several prepositions that introduce a target or participant before the predicate, and they are not interchangeable. Understanding why you choose 比 (bǐ) requires looking at the relationship between Subject A and Object B: - 比 (bǐ) introduces a benchmark specifically to establish a difference in degree or quality (A exceeds B in some attribute). - By contrast, prepositions like 跟 (gēn, with) introduce a partner in a joint action or a target for testing similarity (such as checking whether two things are the same), rather than ranking one above the other. - Prepositions like 给 (gěi, to/for) introduce a recipient or beneficiary of an action, not a standard of measurement. In the pattern practised here, 比 introduces the benchmark for taller, faster, hotter or more expensive. Other Chinese constructions, including 没有 and 不如, can also express comparisons, but they organize the relationship differently. ## Frequently asked questions **Why can't I use 很 (hěn) before the adjective in a 比 (bǐ) sentence?** In simple descriptive sentences, 很 (hěn) often acts as a default modifier before an adjective. In a comparative sentence, the prepositional phrase with 比 (bǐ) already modifies the predicate and establishes a relative degree. Adding 很 (hěn) conflicts with this comparative focus. To say 'much more', place 多了 (duō le) after the adjective instead. **Do Chinese adjectives change form when used with 比 (bǐ)?** No. Chinese adjectives remain in their base form. The comparative meaning ('-er' or 'more') is carried entirely by the preposition 比 (bǐ) and its position before the adjective. **How do I avoid putting 比 (bǐ) in the English word order?** Treat 比 + B as a unit and place it before the adjective in this basic pattern: A + 比 + B + adjective. Do not copy the position of an English than-phrase after the comparative adjective. This is a rule for the present pattern, not for every Chinese prepositional phrase. **Source**[hsk.cn-bj.ufileos.com · PDF page 389](https://hsk.cn-bj.ufileos.com/3.0/%E6%96%B0%E7%89%88HSK%E8%80%83%E8%AF%95%E5%A4%A7%E7%BA%B21219.pdf#page=389) ## Continue in the app Full mock exams are available in HSKReady. [![Download on the App Store](https://hskready.app/download-on-app-store-black.svg)Download on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id6791916440?l=en)[![Get it on Google Play](https://hskready.app/get-it-on-google-play.svg)Get it on Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.curiolab.hskready&hl=en) [HSKReady App](https://hskready.app/en/app)