HSK 2 · Particles

比 bǐ “compared to” in Chinese

Same in Traditional

What 比 means

compared to
to compare
(followed by a noun and adjective) more {adj.} than {noun}
ratio
to gesture

More meanings from CC-CEDICT

Belgium
Belgian

How to say 比

比bǐ3rd tone, dipping

比 in a sentence

今天比昨天冷。
Jīntiān bǐ zuótiān lěng.
Today is colder than yesterday.
Sentence #11837764 from Tatoeba
他比他的弟弟高。
Tā bǐ tā de dìdi gāo.
He’s taller than his younger brother.
Sentence #848990 from Tatoeba · translation adapted
他游泳比我好。
Tā yóuyǒng bǐ wǒ hǎo.
He swims better than I do.
Sentence #743739 from Tatoeba

How 比 is built

Each colour is one part of the character. Parts repeat across thousands of characters, so learning them makes new words easier. See all 214 in our radicals chart.

The character 比 (bǐ) with each of its parts in a different colour

比bǐto compare

匕spoon · bǐ
匕spoon · bǐ

Memory aidTwo people 匕 side by side: to compare.

How to write 比

比 4 strokes

Watch the order, then press Try writing it and draw each stroke in the grid. Each stroke is checked as you go.

比 (bǐ) stroke order chart: each stroke of the character in the order you write it — Stroke order chart for 比 (bǐ). Red marks the next stroke, so you can copy it onto paper one step at a time.

Words related to 比

Words with 比

比较bǐjiào · compare 比赛bǐsài · sports match 比如bǐrú · for example 对比duìbǐ · to contrast 比例bǐlì · proportion 无比wúbǐ · incomparable 比方bǐfang · example 比喻bǐyù · metaphor 比重bǐzhòng · proportion

More words: Particles & Connectors

很hěn · very 太tài · too 和hé · and 吧ba · suggestion particle 得de · particle linking a verb to how it is done (e.g. 跑得快离lí · away from 从cóng · from 到dào · to

FAQs

What does 比 mean in English?

比 (bǐ) means “compared to” or “to compare”. It is an HSK 2 word, so it is one of the words learners meet early.

How do you pronounce 比?

Say it bǐ: bǐ with a 3rd tone. Press Listen at the top of this page to hear it, or Slowly to hear each tone clearly.

Is 比 the same in Traditional Chinese?

Yes. 比 is written the same way in Simplified and Traditional characters.

How do you type 比 on a keyboard?

Add a Chinese (Simplified) pinyin keyboard to your phone or computer, type bi with no tone marks or spaces, then choose 比 from the suggestions. Typing bi into this dictionary’s search box finds it too.

What HSK level is 比?

比 is an HSK 2 word in the HSK 2.0 word lists.

Sources: meaning and pinyin checked by a native Mandarin teacher against the official HSK lists. Extra meanings from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0). Example sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR). Character parts and stroke order from Make Me a Hanzi.