比 (bǐ) — (preposition) used to compare differences, meaning 'more ... than'; (verb) to compare
Definition
比 is the basic HSK 2 word for 'than' in A比B+adj comparisons (我比他高). It only compares — use 比较 for the verb 'to compare', 相比/对比 for the noun 'comparison' or 'to contrast'.
preposition
used to compare differencesmeaning 'more ... than'
verb
to compare
Easily confused
Examples
- 比。Tā bǐ wǒ gāo.He is taller than me.
- 比。Zhè ge píng guǒ bǐ nà ge dà.This apple is bigger than that one.
- 比。Nǐ men bú yào bǐ le.Don't compare anymore.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
- 匕匕bǐ
- 匕匕bǐ
比 is two 匕 placed side by side. Chu Wan-li treats both as sound parts, while an old reading takes the side-by-side arrangement as putting things next to each other.
Grammar
Appears in
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