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Introducing expressions of comparison

In this video, Dr Li will introduce some expressions of comparison.
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Welcome to my Chinese class. You see, Píngguǒ dà. Yīngtáo xiǎo.
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we can say Píngguǒ bǐ yīngtáo dà.
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This is the grammar we are going to learn, comparison using the preposition bǐ. Let’s see some more sentences. Xīguā bǐ píngguǒ dà.
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Yáo míng bǐ Chéng lóng gāo.
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Dōngtiān bǐ xiàtiān lěng.
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The structure of these sentences is A plus bǐ plus B plus adjective. Here, the preposition bǐ is use to compare the qualities and the characteristics of two things. Now let’s practise. Describe these pictures using bǐ structure. Nǐ jiā de shū bǐ wǒ jiā de shū duō.
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Fēijī bǐ huǒchē kuài.
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OK. Let’s listen to a dialogue. Try to find the bǐ structure. Wáng Xiǎobǎonǐ zài kàn shénme Wǒ zài kàn zhàopiànnǐ kàn wǒ dìdi bǐ wǒ gāo.
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Shìāzhèshì nǐ mèimei manǐ bǐ tā gāo.
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Shìde. Wǒ jiā yǒu wǔkǒu rénbàbamāmadìdimèimei hé wǒ. nǐ jiā ne Wǒjiā yǒu sānkǒu rénbàba māma hé wǒ .
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Wǒ jiā rén bǐ nǐ jiā rén duō.
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Shìde. There are three sentences that use the bǐ structure. Wǒ dìdi bǐ wǒ gāo.
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Nǐ bǐ tā gāo. Wǒ jiā rén bǐ nǐ jiā rén duō.
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The preposition bǐ compares the qualities and characteristics of two things. The structure is A plus bǐ plus B plus adjective.

In this video we will learn how to compare the qualities and characteristics of two things by using the preposition“比”.

It’s similar to “…Adjective comparative + than…” in English. For example:

西瓜比苹果大。Xīguā bǐ píngguǒ dà .

A watermelon is bigger than an apple.

姚明比成龙高。Yáomíng bǐ Chénglóng gāo.

Yao Ming is taller than Jackie Chan.

冬天比夏天冷。Dōngtiān bǐ xiàtiān lěng.

Winter is colder than summer.

The structure of these sentences is A + “比” + B + Adj.

The following is Chinese and English Version of Situational Dialogue in the Video:

西西:王小宝,你在看什么?

王小宝:我在看照片,你看我弟弟比我高。

西西:是啊,这是你妹妹吗?你比她高。

王小宝:是的。我家有5口人,爸爸、妈妈、弟弟、妹妹和我。你家呢?

西西:我家有3口人。爸爸、妈妈和我。

王小宝:我家人比你家人多。

西西:是的。

Xīxī:Wang Xiaobao, what are you looking at?

Wáng Xiǎobǎo:I’m looking at photos. Look, my brother is taller than me.

Xīxī: Yeah, is this your sister? You’re taller than her.

Wáng Xiǎobǎo: Right, there are five people in my family, my father, my mother, my brother, my sister and me.

Xīxī:There are three people in mine, my father, my mother and me.

Wáng Xiǎobǎo: I have more family members than you do.

Xīxī:That’s right.

© Shanghai International Studies University

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Learn Chinese: Introduction to Chinese Grammar

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