A 不如 B
HSK 4- Comparison
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
The structure A 不如 B is used for inferior comparisons, meaning A is not as good as B in some respect.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
不如 (bùrú) means "not as good as" or "inferior to." This structure is used to make comparisons and indicate that A is inferior to B in some respect. When no adjective or verb follows, it carries the general comparative meaning of "A is not as good as B."
Unlike 没有, 不如 tends to be subjective, emphasizing quality or judgment rather than objective fact. For example, 我不如他 (I am not as good as him) is a general evaluative remark.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 我的汉语不如他。繁: 我的漢語不如他。Wǒ de hànyǔ bùrú tā.
My Chinese is not as good as his.
- 这个手机不如那个好。繁: 這個手機不如那個好。Zhège shǒujī bùrú nàge hǎo.
This phone is not as good as that one.
- 坐飞机不如坐火车安全。繁: 坐飛機不如坐火車安全。Zuò fēijī bùrú zuò huǒchē ānquán.
Flying by airplane is not as safe as traveling by train.
- 他说得不如唱得好听。繁: 他說得不如唱得好聽。Tā shuō de bùrú chàng de hǎotīng.
He doesn't speak as pleasantly as he sings.
- 百闻不如一见。繁: 百聞不如一見。Bǎi wén bùrú yí jiàn.
Hearing about something a hundred times is not as good as seeing it once.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:他不如我很高。Correct:他不如我高。
Adjectives in the 不如 structure do not co-occur with degree adverbs such as 很 or 非常.
- Wrong:我跑步不如他慢。Correct:我跑步没有他快。
不如 is typically used with positive-meaning adjectives to indicate inferiority; saying "not slow as" would be an unnatural way of expressing this.