A 比 B 还 + Adjective
HSK 5- Comparison
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
Used for emphatic comparison, meaning that A possesses a quality (adjective) that surpasses even B; often carries a sense of surprise.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
This structure is used to emphasize a higher degree of comparison that exceeds expectation. While A 比 B + Adj simply states that A is more than B, adding the adverb 还 (hái) before the adjective conveys the meaning "A is even more … than B." This implies that B is already at a high degree, yet A surpasses it further still.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 他弟弟比他还高。繁: 他弟弟比他還高。Tā dìdi bǐ tā hái gāo.
His younger brother is even taller than he is.
- 今天的考试比昨天还难。繁: 今天的考試比昨天還難。Jīntiān de kǎoshì bǐ zuótiān hái nán.
Today's exam is even more difficult than yesterday's.
- 高铁比汽车还快。繁: 高鐵比汽車還快。Gāotiě bǐ qìchē hái kuài.
High-speed rail is even faster than cars.
- 没想到你比我还紧张。繁: 沒想到你比我還緊張。Méi xiǎngdào nǐ bǐ wǒ hái jǐnzhāng.
I didn't expect you to be more nervous than me.
- 这个房间比那个还干净。繁: 這個房間比那個還乾淨。Zhège fángjiān bǐ nàge hái gānjìng.
This room is even cleaner than that one.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:他还比我高。Correct:他比我还高。
The adverb 还 must stand immediately before an adjective to emphasize degree; it cannot stand before the preposition 比.
- Wrong:他比我更还高。Correct:他比我还高。
Both 还 and 更 are adverbs indicating degree and cannot be used together in a 比-comparison sentence.