B1 Intermediate Comparisons

How to Say “Rather” with 比较 (bǐjiào)

比较 (bǐjiào) is the adverb for “rather,” “comparatively,” or “relatively”: 这条路比较窄 (“this road is relatively narrow”). It always carries a quiet comparison, a measured “more so than the alternative,” not a flat “very.” It also fronts feeling verbs like 喜欢 (比较喜欢, “rather prefer”), and unlike 挺, it takes no closing 的.

Why this trips learners up

比较 (bǐjiào) started life as a verb meaning “to compare,” and that's the key to its other job: as an adverb it means “rather,” “comparatively,” or “relatively.” The structure is plain: Subject + 比较 + Adjective. 这条路比较窄 (“this road is relatively narrow”), 今天比较冷 (“it's rather cold today”), 这个问题比较简单 (“this question is relatively easy”).

What makes 比较 special is the quiet comparison it always carries. It isn't a flat “very”; it's “more so than the alternative,” a measured, understated judgment. 南方的冬天比较暖和 means winters in the south are warm compared to the rest of the country, not simply “very warm.” That built-in “relatively” is why 比较 feels modest and careful where 很 (“very”) feels absolute.

Like its cousin 挺, 比较 also fronts a small group of feeling verbs such as 喜欢 (“like”), 讨厌 (“dislike”), 想 (“want”) and 反对 (“oppose”): 我比较喜欢安静的地方 (“I rather prefer quiet places”). Here it often shades toward “prefer,” which is why 你比较喜欢茶还是咖啡? naturally becomes “do you prefer tea or coffee?” The one thing it won't do is take a plain action verb on its own, so you say 比较喜欢跑步, not 比较跑步.

Two habits keep 比较 clean. First, it needs no closing 的: it's 这个比较好, not 这个比较好的 (that 的 belongs to 挺, not 比较). Second, don't confuse the adverb 比较 with the preposition 比 (“than”). 比 sets up an explicit two-item comparison, A 比 B Adj (这个比那个好, “this is better than that”), while 比较 stands alone before the adjective with no second item in sight (这个比较好, “this one is relatively good”).

The structure

Subject 比较 bǐjiào Adjective

Colour key

Each colour marks one grammatical role — and the same colour means the same role on every page in the Lab.

Pattern Subject Verb Object Place Function word Adjective Connector Other

Examples in context

Real-world sentences, easiest first. Toggle pinyin or the translation, tap any word to see its role, or play the audio.

Tap a word to see its grammatical role.

zhè tiáo lù 这条路 Subject bǐjiào 比较 Pattern zhǎi 窄 Adjective

This road is relatively narrow (basic 比较 + adjective).

nánfāng de dōngtiān 南方的冬天 Subject bǐjiào 比较 Pattern nuǎnhuo 暖和 Adjective

Winters in the south are relatively warm (the built-in comparison: south vs the rest).

zuò 坐 Verb gāotiě 高铁 Object bǐjiào 比较 Pattern kuài 快 Adjective

Taking the high-speed train is comparatively fast (比较 on a verb-phrase topic).

wǒ 我 Subject bǐjiào 比较 Pattern xǐhuan 喜欢 Verb ānjìng de dìfang 安静的地方 Object

I rather prefer quiet places (比较 + the feeling verb 喜欢).

wǒ 我 Subject juéde 觉得 Verb hóngsè de 红色的 Subject bǐjiào 比较 Pattern hǎokàn 好看 Adjective

I think the red one looks better (比较 inside an opinion, with 觉得).

zhè jiā diàn de dōngxi 这家店的东西 Subject bǐjiào 比较 Pattern guì 贵 Adjective dànshì 但是 Connector zhìliàng 质量 Subject hǎo 好 Adjective

The things in this shop are rather pricey, but the quality is good (比较 in a balanced judgment).

nǐ 你 Subject bǐjiào 比较 Pattern xiǎng 想 Function word qù 去 Verb hǎibiān 海边 Place háishì 还是 Connector shān shàng 山上 Place

Would you rather go to the beach or the mountains? (比较 as “prefer” in an either-or question).

wǒ bàmā 我爸妈 Subject bǐjiào 比较 Pattern fǎnduì 反对 Verb wǒ 我 Object yí gè rén 一个人 Other qù 去 Verb lǚxíng 旅行 Verb

My parents rather object to me traveling on my own (比较 + the feeling verb 反对).

Common mistakes

Avoid: 这个比较好的。 zhège bǐjiào hǎo de.

Say this: 这个比较好。 zhège bǐjiào hǎo.

Why it happens: 比较 takes no closing 的, unlike 挺 … 的. Say 这个比较好 (“this one is relatively good”), not 这个比较好的. That 的 is the signature of 挺, not 比较.

Avoid: 这个比较那个好。 zhège bǐjiào nàge hǎo.

Say this: 这个比那个好。 zhège bǐ nàge hǎo.

Why it happens: Don't mix up the adverb 比较 with the preposition 比 (“than”). For an explicit “A is better than B,” use 比: 这个比那个好. 比较 has no second item, it just sits before the adjective: 这个比较好 (“relatively good”).

Avoid: 比较这个问题简单。 bǐjiào zhège wèntí jiǎndān.

Say this: 这个问题比较简单。 zhège wèntí bǐjiào jiǎndān.

Why it happens: 比较 is an adverb, so it goes after the subject and right before the adjective, not at the front of the sentence: 这个问题比较简单 (“this question is rather easy”), not 比较这个问题简单.

Compare & contrast

比较 + Adj (rather / relatively, an implied comparison)	很 + Adj (very, a plain statement)	The difference
这家餐厅比较贵。zhè jiā cāntīng bǐjiào guì.	这家餐厅很贵。zhè jiā cāntīng hěn guì.	这家餐厅比较贵 is “this restaurant is relatively expensive,” pricier than others you have in mind. 这家餐厅很贵 is the flat “this restaurant is very expensive,” no comparison attached.
我今天比较忙。wǒ jīntiān bǐjiào máng.	我今天很忙。wǒ jīntiān hěn máng.	我今天比较忙 is “I'm rather busy today,” busier than usual. 我今天很忙 is simply “I'm very busy today.” 比较 measures against something; 很 just states it.

Rule of thumb比较 always carries a quiet comparison: “relatively, more so than the alternative,” a measured, understated judgment. 很 just states the degree outright. If you mean “rather, on the higher side compared to others,” reach for 比较; if you simply mean “very,” use 很.

Try it yourself

Say “Taking the bus is relatively cheap.” Use 比较 before the adjective.

Related patterns

Quick reference card

How to Say “Rather” with 比较 (bǐjiào) grammar.merrymandarin.com

A pocket summary — print it and keep it by your desk.

Structure

Subject + 比较 + Adjective

Example

这条路比较窄

This road is relatively narrow (basic 比较 + adjective).

Watch out

✗ 这个比较好的。 → ✓ 这个比较好。