Introduction
比 (bǐ) says A beats B. 有 (yǒu) says A reaches B — it is as tall, as good, as expensive. And 没有 (méiyǒu) says it falls short: 我没有他高。(Wǒ méiyǒu tā gāo.) — I'm not as tall as he is. In practice the negative is the one you will use most.
Overview
Structure: A + 有 (yǒu) / 没有 (méiyǒu) + B + (这么 (zhème) / 那么 (nàme)) + Adj.
| Pattern | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| A 没有 B + Adj | 我没有他高。(Wǒ méiyǒu tā gāo.) | I'm not as tall as he is. |
| A 有 B + Adj | 他有我高了。(Tā yǒu wǒ gāo le.) | He's as tall as me now. |
| A 有 B + 这么 + Adj | 他有我这么高。(Tā yǒu wǒ zhème gāo.) | He's as tall as I am. |
| A 没有 B + 那么 + Adj | 这儿没有北京那么冷。(Zhèr méiyǒu Běijīng nàme lěng.) | It isn't as cold here as in Beijing. |
| A 有没有 B + Adj？ | 他有没有你高？(Tā yǒu méiyǒu nǐ gāo?) | Is he as tall as you? |
Three ways to compare, three different answers:
- 我比他高。(Wǒ bǐ tā gāo.) — I'm taller. A beats B.
- 我跟他一样高。(Wǒ gēn tā yíyàng gāo.) — We're the same height.
- 我没有他高。(Wǒ méiyǒu tā gāo.) — I'm not as tall as he is. A falls short.
- 没有 (méiyǒu) is the natural way to say "less than". 比 (bǐ) has no comfortable negative — 不比 (bù bǐ) only denies the comparison, it does not reverse it.
Examples
我没有他高。
Wǒ méiyǒu tā gāo.
I'm not as tall as he is.
这儿没有北京那么冷。
Zhèr méiyǒu Běijīng nàme lěng.
It isn't as cold here as it is in Beijing.
我的中文没有他好。
Wǒ de Zhōngwén méiyǒu tā hǎo.
My Chinese isn't as good as his.
他有我这么高了。
Tā yǒu wǒ zhème gāo le.
He's grown as tall as me.
这个菜没有那个好吃。
Zhège cài méiyǒu nàge hǎochī.
This dish isn't as tasty as that one.
坐火车没有坐飞机快。
Zuò huǒchē méiyǒu zuò fēijī kuài.
The train isn't as fast as flying.
Usage Notes
- The positive 有 (yǒu) is much rarer than the negative and usually comes with 这么 (zhème) or 那么 (nàme): 他有我这么高。(Tā yǒu wǒ zhème gāo.)
- 这么 (zhème) is for something near you, 那么 (nàme) for something further off — the same split as 这 (zhè) and 那 (nà).
- Like a 比 (bǐ) sentence, this one refuses 很 (hěn): ❌ 我没有他很高 (wǒ méiyǒu tā hěn gāo).
- The question form is 有没有 (yǒu méiyǒu): 他有没有你高？(Tā yǒu méiyǒu nǐ gāo?)
- The two sides can be whole phrases, not just nouns: 坐火车没有坐飞机快。(Zuò huǒchē méiyǒu zuò fēijī kuài.)