Comparison: A 比 B + adj.; A 没有 B + adj.
【一18】【一38】介词“比” / 比较句
Tone colorsā tone 1á tone 2ǎ tone 3à tone 4a neutral
To say “A is more … than B”: A 比 B + adjective. 哥哥比弟弟高 (the older brother is taller than the younger one).
Careful: no 很 in a 比 comparison! The “more” idea is already in 比.
For “A is less … than B” (“not as … as”): A 没有 B + adjective. 昨天没有今天热 (yesterday wasn't as hot as today).
Tip: think of 比 as “compared to”: 今天比昨天冷 = “today, compared to yesterday, cold”.
Examples
我朋友比我高。
Wǒ péngyou bǐ wǒ gāo.My friend is taller than me.
这个手机比那个贵。
Zhège shǒujī bǐ nàge guì.This phone is more expensive than that one.
这个房间比那个房间大。
Zhège fángjiān bǐ nàge fángjiān dà.This room is bigger than that one.
昨天没有今天热。
Zuótiān méiyǒu jīntiān rè.Yesterday wasn't as hot as today.
这个书包没有那个好看。
Zhège shūbāo méiyǒu nàge hǎokàn.This schoolbag isn't as nice as that one.
Common mistakes
✗ 哥哥比弟弟很高 → ✓ 哥哥比弟弟高.
✗ 哥哥高比弟弟 (from “taller than”) → ✓ 哥哥比弟弟高.
✗ 哥哥不比弟弟高 for “less tall” → ✓ 哥哥没有弟弟高.