Level 2 Lesson 4.1 – Busier; Less Tired

GRAMMAR

Grammar 1: Comparison in Chinese with 比 and 没有 · HSK 2

We can use 比 bǐ to make a comparison in Chinese, to say that A is more ... than B, using this structure:

A 比 B + adj.

For example,

• zhège háizi bǐ nàge háizi dà
  这个孩子比那个孩子大。
  this "ge" child (is) bigger/older than that "ge" child
• zhàngfu bǐ qīzi máng
  丈夫比妻子忙。
  (the) husband (is) busier than (the) wife.

If we want to say a negative sentence with this structure, we must put 不 before 比, for example,

• zhège háizi bù bǐ nàge háizi dà
  这个孩子不比那个孩子大。
  this "ge" child (is) not bigger/older than that "ge" child
• zhàngfu bù bǐ qīzi máng
  丈夫不比妻子忙。
  (the) husband (is) not busier than (the) wife.

However, there is a more commonly used structure to say A is not as...as B, or A is less... than B, it is

A 没有 B + adj.

For example,

• Lǐ Jīnglǐ méiyou Zhōu Jīnglǐ máng
  李经理没有周经理忙。
  Manager Li is not as busy as Manager Zhou
  Manager Li is less busy than Manager Zhou
• wǒ qùnián méiyǒu jīnnián máng
  我去年没有今年忙。
  I last year (am) not as busy as this year
  I last year (am) less busy than this year
• tā zài gōngsī méiyǒu zài xuéxiào kuàilè
  他在公司没有在学校快乐。
  he in (the) company (is) not as happy as at school
  he in (the) company (is) less happy as at school

Grammar 2: 快乐 vs 高兴 in Chinese · HSK 2

We have learned how to say happy in Chinese before, which is 高兴 gāoxìng, 快乐 kuàilè also means happy in Chinese. The difference is that 高兴 is more of a temporary mood of being happy and contend and 快乐 is more of a mental state, like having the feeling of happiness.

For example,

• nǐ wèishénme měitiān dōu bú kuàile
  你为什么每天都不快乐？
  why (are) you not happy all (of) every day
• tā zuótiān méiyǒu jīntiān gāoxìng
  他昨天没有今天高兴。
  he yesterday (was) not as happy as today

Also, for us to say "happy birthday", we have to use 快乐 instead of 高兴.

• shēngrì kuàilè
  生日快乐！
  happy birthday

Grammar 3: Verb Phrase used as the Subject or the Object in Chinese · HSK 2

In English when you want to use a verb phrase to be the Subject or the Object, you usually say its "-ing" form, or add "to" in front of the verb.

For example,

• drinking tea is healthier than drinking cola.
• I’d like to drink tea.

But in Chinese, we don’t have to change anything, just say the verb phrase as it is. For example,

(1) Verb Phrase used as the Subject

• dǎ Hànzì hěn kuài
  打汉字很快。
  typing Chinese characters (is) very fast
• zuò huǒchē tàimànle
  坐火车太慢了。
  taking train (is) too slow

(2) Verb Phrase used as the Object

• nǐ zhàngfu dǎsuàn xiūxi ma
  你丈夫打算休息吗？
  (does) your husband plan to take a break
• wǒ fēicháng bù xǐhuan jiābān
  我非常不喜欢加班。
  I very much not like working overtime