相比之下 (xiāng bǐ zhī xià) — in comparison; by contrast

Definition

A conjunctive phrase meaning 'by comparison / by contrast' — used at the start of a sentence or clause to highlight how the second item differs from the first. Similar to 比较起来, but more formal and written.

idiom

in comparisonby contrast

Examples

相比之下，。
xiāng bǐ zhī xià, Tā de fāng àn gèng hǎo.
In comparison, his plan is better.
相比之下，。
xiāng bǐ zhī xià, Zhōng guó de jīng jì zēng zhǎng gèng kuài.
By contrast, China's economic growth is faster.
相比之下，。
xiāng bǐ zhī xià, Běi fāng de dōng tiān gèng lěng.
In comparison, winters in the north are colder.

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

木目相

木木mùtree
目目mùeye

In 相, 目 is an eye and 木 is a tree, showing an eye looking at a tree; this originally meant “to observe.”

Open 相 →

Most 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.

Open 比 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.