Chinese Comparisons of Equality: Using 跟...一样 and 没有...那么
Learn to compare things that are equal in Chinese using 跟...一样 (as...as) and 没有...那么 (not as...as). This lesson focuses on expressing equality and inequality, different from more/most comparisons.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In Chinese, comparing things that are equal is done with the pattern 跟...一样 (gēn... yīyàng), meaning 'as...as'. To say something is not as...as, use 没有...那么 (méiyǒu... nàme). This lesson teaches you these patterns step by step, with clear examples and practice. You will learn to form sentences like 'She is as tall as her brother' and 'This book is not as interesting as that one'. By the end, you will be able to compare people and things in everyday situations.
By the end, you can…
- use 跟...一样 to say two things are equal in a quality.
- use 没有...那么 to say one thing is not as...as another.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
她跟她哥哥一样高。
She is as tall as her brother.
Tā gēn tā gēge yīyàng gāo.
Use 跟...一样 to compare two people or things that are equal in height. 高 (gāo) is the adjective.
这本书没有那本书那么有意思。
This book is not as interesting as that book.
Zhè běn shū méiyǒu nà běn shū nàme yǒu yìsi.
Use 没有...那么 to say something is less than another in a quality. 有意思 (yǒu yìsi) means 'interesting'.
我的手机跟你的手机一样贵。
My phone is as expensive as your phone.
Wǒ de shǒujī gēn nǐ de shǒujī yīyàng guì.
Compare two objects of the same type. 贵 (guì) means 'expensive'.
今天没有昨天那么热。
Today is not as hot as yesterday.
Jīntiān méiyǒu zuótiān nàme rè.
Compare two times. 热 (rè) means 'hot'. This pattern is common for weather.
他跟他爸爸一样喜欢喝茶。
He likes drinking tea as much as his father does.
Tā gēn tā bàba yīyàng xǐhuan hē chá.
Compare two people's preferences. 喜欢 (xǐhuan) means 'like', 喝茶 (hē chá) means 'drink tea'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The basic pattern for equality is: A 跟 B 一样 + adjective. For example, 她跟她哥哥一样高 (She is as tall as her brother). The negative form is: A 没有 B 那么 + adjective. For example, 这本书没有那本书那么有意思 (This book is not as interesting as that book). Note that in the negative form, 那么 (nàme) can sometimes be replaced by 这么 (zhème) if the second item is close to the speaker, but 那么 is more common. Also, you can omit 那么 in casual speech: 这本书没有那本书有意思, but including it is clearer for learners.
When to use it
Use 跟...一样 when you want to say two things are equal in some way. It works with adjectives like 高 (tall), 贵 (expensive), 忙 (busy), and with verbs like 喜欢 (like). Use 没有...那么 when you want to say one thing is less than another. For example, 我的汉语没有他那么好 (My Chinese is not as good as his). Avoid using 跟...一样 for inequality; that would be incorrect. Also, don't confuse with 比 (bǐ) which is used for 'more than' comparisons, e.g., 他比我高 (He is taller than me).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
你跟你弟弟一样高吗？
Are you as tall as your younger brother?Nǐ gēn nǐ dìdi yīyàng gāo ma?不，我没有他那么高。他比我高。
No, I am not as tall as him. He is taller than me.Bù, wǒ méiyǒu tā nàme gāo. Tā bǐ wǒ gāo.那你的汉语跟他一样好吗？
Then is your Chinese as good as his?Nà nǐ de Hànyǔ gēn tā yīyàng hǎo ma?我的汉语没有他那么好，但是我的英语跟他一样好。
My Chinese is not as good as his, but my English is as good as his.Wǒ de Hànyǔ méiyǒu tā nàme hǎo, dànshì wǒ de Yīngyǔ gēn tā yīyàng hǎo.A little context goes a long way
In Chinese, comparisons of equality are often used to show modesty or to avoid direct boasting. For example, saying 我跟你一样 (I am the same as you) can be a polite way to say you are not better. Also, when using 没有...那么, it is common to soften the comparison by adding 那么, which makes the sentence less blunt. In formal writing, 跟...一样 is preferred over 像...一样, though both are correct. Be aware that in some southern varieties of Chinese, 跟 may be replaced by 和 or 同, but in standard Mandarin, 跟 is most common in spoken language.
One thing to watch for
Using 比 in place of 跟...一样 for equality, e.g., 她比她哥哥一样高.
Try this instead: For equality, use 跟...一样: 她跟她哥哥一样高. 比 is only for inequality, e.g., 她比她哥哥高 (She is taller than her brother).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'My bag is as heavy as your bag' in Chinese?
Show a sample answer
我的包跟你的包一样重。
This uses 跟...一样 with the adjective 重 (heavy). Alternatively, you could say 我的包和你的包一样重, but 跟 is more common in spoken Mandarin.
2Translate: 'Today is not as cold as yesterday.'
Show a sample answer
今天没有昨天那么冷。
This uses 没有...那么 with 冷 (cold). You could also omit 那么: 今天没有昨天冷, but including it is clearer.
3Make a sentence comparing two people's liking for music using 跟...一样.
Show a sample answer
他跟我一样喜欢音乐。
This uses 跟...一样 with the verb phrase 喜欢音乐 (like music). Note that the adjective/verb comes after 一样.
Remember: 跟...一样 for equality, 没有...那么 for 'not as...as'. Practice with adjectives and verbs you know.
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