Teaching Chinese Comparison Words ’bǐjiào’ and ‘gèng’

Quick Take

The Chinese words 比较【bǐjiào】 and 更【gèng】are used to make comparisons. This lesson plan provides an example on how to teach the differences between the words.

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Overview

1. Explain the meaning and usage of the adverb 比较【bǐjiào】 with examples.

2. Explain the meaning and usage of the adverb 更【gèng】 with examples.

3. Give the similar examples of the adverbs 比较【bǐjiào】and 更【gèng】to show the differences.

4. The usage of 比【bǐ】with 比较【bǐjiào】 or 更【gèng】in a sentence.

I．Examples of the Adverb 比较【bǐjiào】

Here 比较【bǐjiào=relatively, rather, fairly, quite】 is used on the pretext of comparison. If the context is clear, the object of comparison is usually omitted.

Example 1:

The price here is relatively reasonable.

这里【zhèlǐ=here】价钱【jiàqián=price】比较【bǐjiào=relatively】合理【hélǐ=reasonable】。

这里价钱比较合理。

Example 2:

They rather like to eat Chinese food.

他们【tāmen=they】比较【bǐjiào=rather】喜欢【xǐhuān=like】吃【chī=eat】中国【Zhōngguó=Chinese】菜【cài=food】。

他们比较喜欢吃中国菜。

Example 3:

The mountain path is quite slippery.

山路【shānlù= mountain path】比较【bǐjiào=quite】滑【huá=slippery】。

山路比较滑。

Sometimes 比较【bǐjiào】is used to suggest a meaning close to “quite” when the thing is compared with the normal standard or rather on an average basis.

Everyone knows that mountain path is quite slippery. You don’t need to experience it by yourself (it’s normal standard) so 比较【bǐjiào】here means ‘quite’.

II. Examples of 更【gèng】

The adverb 更【gèng=more, even more】is used to compare with an object that can be not mentioned in the sentence but understood by context. It works with adjectives, psycho-emotional verbs and some adverbs.

Example 1:

He is becoming even taller.

他【tā=he】更【gèng=even more】高【gāo=tall】了【le】。

他更高了。

Example 2:

I think dumpling and steam dumpling are tasty, but I prefer dumpling.

I think dumpling and steam dumpling are tasty, but I like dumpling more.

我【wǒ=I】觉得【juéde= think】饺子【jiǎozi=dumpling】和【hé=and】烧麦【shāomai=a steamed dumpling with the dough gathered at the top】都【dōu=all】好吃【hǎochí= delicious, tasty】，但是【dànshì=but】我【wǒ=I】更【gèng=more】喜欢【xǐhuān=like】饺子【jiǎozi=dumpling】。

我觉得饺子和烧麦都好吃，但是我更喜欢饺子。

III. Similar Examples of Adverbs比较【bǐjiào】and 更【gèng】

a. 比较【bǐjiào=relatively】and 更【gèng=more】.

Example 1:

Which book is relatively interesting?

哪【nǎ=which】一【yī=a】本【běn=a measure word for books】书【shū=book】比较【bǐjiào=rather】好看【hǎokàn=interesting】？

哪一本书比较好看？

Example 2:

Which book is more interesting?

哪【nǎ=which】一【yī=a】本【běn=a measure word for books】书【shū=book】更【gèng= more】好看【hǎokàn=interesting】？

哪一本书更好看？

b. 比较【bǐjiào=rather】and 更【gèng=more】.

Example 1:

All books are interesting, I don’t know which one I rather like.

所有【suǒyǒu=all】的【de】书【shū=book】都【dōu】好看【hǎokàn=interesting】，我【wǒ=I】不【bù=not】知道【zhīdào=know】自己【zìjǐ=oneself】比较【bǐjiào=rather】喜欢【xǐhuān=like】哪【nǎ=which】一【yī=one】本【běn=a measure word for books】。

所有的书都好看，我不知道自己比较喜欢哪一本。

Example 2:

All books are interesting, I don’t know prefer which one.

All books are interesting, I don’t know which one I like more.

所有【suǒyǒu=all】的【de】书【shū=book】都【dōu】好看【hǎokàn=interesting】，我【wǒ=I】不【bù=not】知道【zhīdào=know】自己【zìjǐ=oneself】更【gèng=more】喜欢【xǐhuān=like】哪【nǎ=which】一【yī=one】本【běn=a measure word for books】。

所有的书都好看，我不知道自己更喜欢哪一本。