Make comparisons in Chinese without “比”

One can use "比" directly to make comparisons in Chinese. However, in many cases, "比" is not necessary. 

在汉语中，表示比较的句子很多，有直接在句中用"比"字来比较两者的，但更多的是没有"比"字的比较句。

1. A与/和/跟B相似 

  A and B are alike 

A and B are alike but not the same.

A与/和/跟B相似，但不相同。

Example: 

guǎng dōng shěng de qì hòu gēn fú jiàn shěng de xiàng sì

广东省的气候跟福建省的相似。

Climate in Guangdong is similar to that in Fujian.

zhè zhǒng shù mù de shēng zhǎng huán jìng hé nà zhǒng shù mù de shēng zhǎng huán jìng xiàng sì

这种树木的生长环境和那种树木的生长环境相似。

This tree and that tree lives in a similar environment. 

2. A+形容词+于+B（名词）

A + adj+于+B (noun) 

This structure has the same meaning with the structure "A比B + adj". In this structure, the adjective is basically a monosyllable, either positive or negative. 

此结构与"A比B+形容词"的意义一致。这个结构中的形容词多为单音节词，即可表示积极的含义，又可表示消极的含义。

Example: 

guǎng dōng shěng de rén kǒu duō yú zhè jiāng shěng

广东省的人口多于浙江省。（=广东省的人口比浙江省的多。）

The population of Guangdong is larger than that of Zhejiang.

wǔ jiā liù dà yú shí

五加六大于十。（=五加六比十大。）

Five plus six is greater than ten.

3. A+形容词+过+B（名词）

A+adj+过+B(名词)

This structure also has the same meaning with the structure "A比B + adj". In this structure, the adjective should be a positive monosyllable. Moreover, A and B can be the same word.

此结构与"A比B+形容词"的意义一致。这个结构中的形容词都为表示积极含义的单音节词。需要注意的是，此结构中A和B可以为相同的词。

Example: 

jiě jie xuǎn de qún zǐ zhǎng guò wǒ xuǎn de

姐姐选的裙子长过我选的。（=姐姐选的裙子比我选的长。）

The skirt chosen by my sister is longer than that I have chosen. 

xiàng huì chǎng yǒng lái de rén qún yī bō duō guò yī bō

向会场涌来的人群一拨多过一拨。（=向会场涌来的人群一拨比一拨多。）

More and more people are flocking towards the meeting venue. 

4. A近似于/相当于/区别于/不亚于B 

A is similar to/equivalent to/different from/not inferior to B

"A近似于B" has the same meaning with "A与/和/跟B相似". "A相当于B" means A and B are the same. "A区别于B" means A is different from B. "A不亚于B" means A is not inferior to B.

"A近似于B"的意义与"A与/和/跟B相似"一致；"A相当于B"表示A和B一样；"A区别于B"表示A和B之间有差别和不同；"A不亚于B"表示A不比B差。

Example: 

jiě jie de shēng yīn jìn sì yú mā mā de

姐姐的声音近似于妈妈的。（=姐姐的声音和妈妈的相似。）

The voice of my sister is similar to that of my mother.

zhè zhī shǒu biǎo de jià qián xiàng dāng yú wǒ yī gè yuè de líng huā qián le

这只手表的价钱相当于我一个月的零花钱了。

The price of this watch is equivalent to my monthly pin money. 

dōu shì kěyǐ shàngwǎng de diànzǐ chǎnpǐn, biànjié chéng le shǒujī qūbié yú diànnǎo de zhòng yào yīn sù

都是可以上网的电子产品，便捷成了手机区别于电脑的重要因素。

Both are electronic products accessible to the Internet, but cell phones distinguish themselves remarkably from computers by their convenience.

5.（…….中，）以……居多 

…is in the majority (among …)

This structure means a certain portion accounts for a majority of all.

此结构表示在一个整体里，某一成分占了很大一部分。

Example: 

zhè jiā fànguǎn de càishì hěn duō, qízhōng yǐ yuècài jūduō

这家饭馆的菜式很多，其中以粤菜居多。

Cantonese dishes are dominant despite of various styles in this restaurant.

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