Comparisons with 比
句型 / sentence patterns (比字句)
Tone colorsā tone 1á tone 2ǎ tone 3à tone 4a neutral
A + 比 + B + Adj
To say "A is more … than B": A 比 B + adjective. 今天比昨天冷 = today is colder than yesterday.
No 很 or 非常 before the adjective! 比 already means "more". To intensify, use 更 or 还 (even more): 北京比上海更冷.
The basic negative is A 没有 B + adj (A isn't as… as B). 不比 exists but sounds like a rebuttal.
Examples
今天比昨天冷。
Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān lěng.Today is colder than yesterday.
北京的冬天比巴黎冷。
Běijīng de dōngtiān bǐ Bālí lěng.Winter in Beijing is colder than in Paris.
南方比北方更热。
Nánfāng bǐ běifāng gèng rè.The south is even hotter than the north.
我比我哥哥高。
Wǒ bǐ wǒ gēge gāo.I'm taller than my older brother.
Common mistakes
✗ 今天比昨天很冷 → ✓ 今天比昨天冷 / 今天比昨天冷多了.
✗ 今天冷比昨天 → ✓ 今天比昨天冷 (比 B before the adjective).