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Lesson

Comparing How Well (比…得)

1. Explain it simply

To compare how well two people do an action, use 比 together with a V得 complement.

There are two equal word orders: A 比 B + V得 + adjective (他比我跑得快), or A + V得 + 比 B + adjective (他跑得比我快). Both mean the same thing.

Do not add 很, 非常, or 太 before the adjective in a 比 comparison; the comparison itself already shows the difference.

2. Show examples

他比我跑得快。

Tā bǐ wǒ pǎo de kuài.

He runs faster than me.

比 before the verb

我起得比你早。

Wǒ qǐ de bǐ nǐ zǎo.

I get up earlier than you.

比 after V得

他做饭做得比我好。

Tā zuò fàn zuò de bǐ wǒ hǎo.

He cooks better than me.

verb repeated before 得

3. Share a tip

Pick one of the two orders and keep 得 right after the verb. Never put 很/非常/太 in front of the adjective in a 比 sentence.