相对而言 (xiāng) — relatively speaking, comparatively speaking

Definition

A set-phrase connector used at the start of a sentence to frame a comparative judgment ("relatively speaking, X is more Y"). It signals that the following claim holds when measured against an implicit baseline, not absolutely.

conjunction
relatively speakingcomparatively speaking

Examples

  • 相对而言
    xiāng, Zhè ge fāng àn gèng jiā hé lǐ.
    Relatively speaking, this plan is more reasonable.
  • 相对而言
    xiāng, Běi fāng rén gèng xǐ huan chī miàn shí.
    Comparatively speaking, northerners prefer to eat noodles.
  • 相对而言
    xiāng, Tā de chéng jì jìn bù hěn dà.
    Relatively speaking, his grades have improved a lot.

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