比

bǐ, bī

HSK 2.0Level 2

HSK 3.0Level 2

Definitions

bǐ (verb,particle) to compare; than; more than

Bǐ (noun) Belgium

Etymology

Two spoons side-by-side, conveying the meaning "to put together", "match", or "compare". 匕 also represents the sound.

About

比 is an ideogrammic compound of two identical 匕 (bǐ) components, originally spoons, placed side by side and facing the same direction. This pairing visually suggests putting things together, matching, or comparing, giving the character its core meanings of "compare", "contrast", and "compete". The 匕 component also provides the sound. In modern Chinese, 比 serves as a preposition equivalent to "than" in comparisons and as a mathematical term for ratios and proportions.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我比你高很多。

Wǒ bǐ nǐ gāo hěn duō.

I am much taller than you.

我的弟弟比我小三岁。

Wǒ de dìdi bǐ wǒ xiǎo sān suì.

My younger brother is three years younger than me.

汽车比自行车快得多。

Qìchē bǐ zìxíngchē kuài de duō.

Cars are much faster than bicycles.

她的中文比我的流利。

Tā de Zhōngwén bǐ wǒ de liúlì.

Her Chinese is more fluent than mine.

我觉得夏天比春天好。

Wǒ juéde xiàtiān bǐ chūntiān hǎo.

I think summer is better than spring.

这家店的价格比那家贵。

Zhè jiā diàn de jiàgé bǐ nà jiā guì.

The prices in this store are more expensive than in that one.

今天比昨天冷了一点儿。

Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān lěng le yīdiǎnr.

It's a little colder today than yesterday.

解决这个问题比我们预想的要困难。

Jiějué zhège wèntí bǐ wǒmen yùxiǎng de yào kùnnán.

Solving this problem is more difficult than we anticipated.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 比

Example Words