Definitions
(verb,particle)
to compare; than; more than
(noun)
Belgium
Etymology
Two spoons side-by-side, conveying the meaning "to put together", "match", or "compare". 匕 also represents the sound.
About
The character "比" originates from a pictographic representation of two figures standing side by side, which inherently conveyed the idea of juxtaposition and thus formed the basis for its fundamental sense of comparison. Its structure is composed of two identical components, each historically derived from a stylized depiction of a person, placed adjacent to one another to visually reinforce concepts of pairing or alignment. From this concrete image of physical proximity, the meaning broadened over time to include the act of evaluating similarities and differences, serving as the root for numerous words involving comparison, such as "比较". Furthermore, its semantic field extended into more abstract domains, acquiring mathematical functions to denote ratios and proportions, evident in terms like "比例", while also being employed as a grammatical particle for constructing comparative statements. This development illustrates a transition from a direct pictorial symbol to a multifunctional character integral to expressing relational concepts in both everyday language and technical contexts.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我比你高很多。
我的弟弟比我小三岁。
汽车比自行车快得多。
她的中文比我的流利。
我觉得夏天比春天好。
这家店的价格比那家贵。
今天比昨天冷了一点儿。
解决这个问题比我们预想的要困难。