How to Say “Times as Many” in Chinese (倍)
Chinese counts multiples with 倍 (bèi), but through two structures that count differently. 是 B 的 N 倍 gives the exact total: 今年的游客是去年的三倍 (“three times last year’s,” 3×). 比 B + Adjective + N 倍 counts the EXTRA on top, so 多一倍 is double (one time more) and 多两倍 is triple. That +1 catches everyone, so when 多 and 倍 meet, say the real number.
Why this trips learners up
倍 (bèi) means “times,” and on its own it’s simple. The trouble with how to say “times as many” in Chinese is that there are two structures, and they don’t count the same way. Get them straight and 倍 is easy; mix them up and you’ll be off by one every time.
The first is the clean one: A + 是 + B + 的 + Number + 倍. This states a total, exactly like English “N times as much”: 今年的游客是去年的三倍 (“this year’s visitors are three times last year’s”), 他的房租是我的四倍 (“his rent is four times mine”). Whatever number you say is the multiple: 三倍 is 3×, 四倍 is 4×. Keep the 的 before the number: 是 B 的 N 倍, never 是 B N 倍.
The second uses 比 with an adjective: A + 比 + B + Adjective + Number + 倍. Here is the twist that trips up even native speakers: because 比 measures the difference, the number counts the extra on top of the original. So 多一倍 is “one time more,” which means double (x + 1x), and 多两倍 is triple (x + 2x). 这个班的学生比那个班多一倍 means this class has twice as many students, and 新办公室比旧的大两倍 means the new office is three times the size. Always one less than the English would suggest.
Two smaller rules keep you safe. First, 倍 rides the “big” adjective: 多 (“many”), 大 (“big”), 贵 (“expensive”), 快 (“fast”), 高 (“tall”), 长 (“long”). Chinese doesn’t count “times smaller” or “times cheaper,” so instead of 比你的小三倍, flip it to the bigger side (你的房间是我的三倍) or use a fraction with 分之. Second, because the 比 structure hides that +1, whenever 多 and 倍 appear together, name the actual amount so both sides agree.
The structure
Colour key
Each colour marks one grammatical role — and the same colour means the same role on every page in the Lab.
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.
zhège fángzi 这个房子 Subject shì 是 Verb nàge fángzi 那个房子 Object de 的 Function word liǎng 两 Number bèi 倍 Pattern
This house is twice the size of that one. (是 B 的 N 倍 states the total: 的两倍 is exactly 2×.)
jīnnián de yóukè 今年的游客 Subject shì 是 Verb qùnián 去年 Time de 的 Function word sān 三 Number bèi 倍 Pattern
This year’s visitors are three times last year’s. (是 + 去年 + 的三倍; the base can be a time word.)
zhège bān de xuésheng 这个班的学生 Subject bǐ 比 Verb nàge bān 那个班 Object duō 多 Adjective yī 一 Number bèi 倍 Pattern
This class has twice as many students as that one. (比…多一倍: “one time more” means DOUBLE, 2×.)
tā de fángzū 他的房租 Subject shì 是 Verb wǒ 我 Object de 的 Function word sì 四 Number bèi 倍 Pattern
His rent is four times mine. (是 + 我 + 的四倍; the base can be a pronoun. 四倍 is exactly 4×.)
xīn bàngōngshì 新办公室 Subject bǐ 比 Verb jiù de 旧的 Object dà 大 Adjective liǎng 两 Number bèi 倍 Pattern
The new office is three times the size of the old one. (比…大两倍: “two times more” means 3×.)
zhè jiā diàn de kāfēi 这家店的咖啡 Subject bǐ 比 Verb nà jiā 那家 Object guì 贵 Adjective yī 一 Number bèi 倍 Pattern
This shop’s coffee is twice as expensive as that shop’s. (比…贵一倍 is 2×.)
tā 他 Subject pǎo 跑 Verb de 得 Function word bǐ 比 Verb wǒ 我 Object kuài 快 Adjective yī 一 Number bèi 倍 Pattern
He runs twice as fast as me. (比 inside a 得 complement: 跑得比我快一倍 is 2×.)
wǒmen jīntiān de dìngdān 我们今天的订单 Subject bǐ 比 Verb zuótiān 昨天 Time duō 多 Adjective le 了 Function word liǎng 两 Number bèi 倍 Pattern
Today’s orders are three times yesterday’s. (比…多了两倍: two times more, so 3×.)
Common mistakes
Why it happens: In the 比 structure the number is the EXTRA on top, not the total. 多两倍 is “two times more,” which is triple (x + 2x), not double. For double you want 多一倍 (“one time more”). This is the classic 倍 mistake, so with 多 and 倍 together, confirm the real number.
Why it happens: The 是 structure keeps 的 before the number: 是 B 的 N 倍. Drop it and 这个房子是那个房子两倍 is ungrammatical; it has to be 这个房子是那个房子的两倍.
Why it happens: Chinese doesn’t count “times smaller / cheaper / shorter” with 倍; it only rides the “big” adjective. Instead of 比你的小三倍, put the comparison on the bigger side, 你的房间是我的三倍, or switch to a fraction with 分之.
Compare & contrast
| 是 B 的 N 倍 (the total) | 比 B 多 N 倍 (the extra) | The difference |
|---|---|---|
| 今年的产量是去年的两倍。jīnnián de chǎnliàng shì qùnián de liǎng bèi. | 今年的产量比去年多一倍。jīnnián de chǎnliàng bǐ qùnián duō yī bèi. | Both say “double,” but with different numbers. 今年的产量是去年的两倍 states the total as 2×. 今年的产量比去年多一倍 counts only the extra (“one time more”), which also lands on 2×. Same amount, one 倍 apart. |
| 他的工资是我的三倍。tā de gōngzī shì wǒ de sān bèi. | 他的工资比我多两倍。tā de gōngzī bǐ wǒ duō liǎng bèi. | Both say “triple.” 他的工资是我的三倍 gives the total, 3×. 他的工资比我多两倍 counts the extra, “two times more,” which is also 3×. The 比 number is always one less than the 是 number for the same amount. |
Try it yourself
Say “My sister has three times as many books as me.” Use A + 是 + B + 的 + Number + 倍: 姐姐的书是我的三倍。
Related patterns
Quick reference card
How to Say “Times as Many” in Chinese (倍) grammar.merrymandarin.com A pocket summary — print it and keep it by your desk.