# Expressing "rather" with "比较"

<SentenceQuiz>

- 这个 问题 _比较_ 简单 。
  <!-- - Zhège wèntí _bǐjiào_ jiǎndān. -->
  - This question is quite easy.
- 我 觉得 这个 价格 _比较_ 贵 。
  <!-- - Wǒ juéde zhège jiàgé _bǐjiào_ guì. -->
  - I think this price is rather expensive.
- 我 家 离 市中心 _比较_ 近 。
  <!-- - Wǒ jiā lí shìzhōngxīn _bǐjiào_ jìn. -->
  - My place is relatively close to downtown.
- 大 城市 的 工作 压力 _比较_ 大 。
  <!-- - Dà chéngshì de gōngzuò yālì _bǐjiào_ dà. -->
  - Jobs in big cities have quite a lot of pressure.
- 你 上班 坐 地铁 _比较_ 方便 吧 ？
  <!-- - Nǐ shàngbān zuò dìtiě _bǐjiào_ fāngbiàn ba? -->
  - To get to work, it's quite convenient for you to take the subway, right?
- 我 _比较_ 讨厌 男人 说 脏话 。
  <!-- - Wǒ _bǐjiào_ tǎoyàn nánrén shuō zānghuà. -->
  - I quite hate it when men use foul language.
- 你 _比较_ 喜欢 用 Gmail 还是 Hotmail ？
  <!-- - Note that for this phrase, the translation is a totally different verb. -->
  <!-- - Nǐ _bǐjiào_ xǐhuan yòng Gmail háishì Hotmail? -->
  - Do you prefer to use Gmail or Hotmail?
- 我 父母 _比较_ 反对 我 找 外国 男朋友 。
  <!-- - Wǒ fùmǔ _bǐjiào_ fǎnduì wǒ zhǎo wàiguó nánpéngyou. -->
  - My parents rather object to me seeking a foreign boyfriend.
- 民众 _比较_ 支持 新 的 就业 政策 。
  <!-- - Mínzhòng _bǐjiào_ zhīchí xīn de jiùyè zhèngcè. -->
  - The public rather supports the new employment policy.
- 老板 通常 _比较_ 关注 结果 ，不 是 过程 。
  <!-- - Lǎobǎn tōngcháng _bǐjiào_ guānzhù jiéguǒ, bù shì guòchéng. -->
  - The boss usually pays more attention to results and not process.

</SentenceQuiz>

<TOC>

- Level: [B1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points) / [HSK3](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/HSK3_grammar_points)
- Similar to
  - [Expressing "a little too" with "有点"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22a_little_too%22_with_%22you_dian%22) (A2)
  - [Moderating positive adjectives with "还"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Moderating_positive_adjectives_with_%22hai%22) (A2)
  - [Special verbs with "很"](../A2/很.md) (A2)
  - [Superlative "最"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Superlative_%22zui%22) (A2)
  - [Expressing "quite" with "挺"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22quite%22_with_%22ting%22) (B1)
  - [Making judgments with "算"](./算.md) (B1)
  - [Expressing "a bit too"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22a_bit_too%22) (B2)
- Used for: [Comparing](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Comparing)
- Keywords: [比](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E6%AF%94), [比较](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E6%AF%94%E8%BE%83)

</TOC>

The word 比较 (bǐjiào) can be a verb which means "to compare." But it can also be an [adverb](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Adverb) meaning "comparatively" or "rather."

## Used with Adjectives

### Structure

The adverb 比较 can be used to express "quite," "rather," or "relatively."

Subj. + 比较 + Adj.

### Examples

- 这个 问题 _比较_ 简单 。
  <!-- - Zhège wèntí _bǐjiào_ jiǎndān. -->
  - This question is quite easy.
- 我 觉得 这个 价格 _比较_ 贵 。
  <!-- - Wǒ juéde zhège jiàgé _bǐjiào_ guì. -->
  - I think this price is rather expensive.
- 我 家 离 市中心 _比较_ 近 。
  <!-- - Wǒ jiā lí shìzhōngxīn _bǐjiào_ jìn. -->
  - My place is relatively close to downtown.
- 大 城市 的 工作 压力 _比较_ 大 。
  <!-- - Dà chéngshì de gōngzuò yālì _bǐjiào_ dà. -->
  - Jobs in big cities have quite a lot of pressure.
- 你 上班 坐 地铁 _比较_ 方便 吧 ？
  <!-- - Nǐ shàngbān zuò dìtiě _bǐjiào_ fāngbiàn ba? -->
  - To get to work, it's quite convenient for you to take the subway, right?

## Used with Verbs

比较 can also be used with [psychological verbs](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Psychological_verb).

### Structure

Subj. + 比较 + [Verb Phrase]

### Examples

- 我 _比较_ 讨厌 男人 说 脏话 。
  <!-- - Wǒ _bǐjiào_ tǎoyàn nánrén shuō zānghuà. -->
  - I quite hate it when men use foul language.
- 你 _比较_ 喜欢 用 Gmail 还是 Hotmail ？
  <!-- - Note that for this phrase, the translation is a totally different verb. -->
  <!-- - Nǐ _bǐjiào_ xǐhuan yòng Gmail háishì Hotmail? -->
  - Do you prefer to use Gmail or Hotmail?
- 我 父母 _比较_ 反对 我 找 外国 男朋友 。
  <!-- - Wǒ fùmǔ _bǐjiào_ fǎnduì wǒ zhǎo wàiguó nánpéngyou. -->
  - My parents rather object to me seeking a foreign boyfriend.
- 民众 _比较_ 支持 新 的 就业 政策 。
  <!-- - Mínzhòng _bǐjiào_ zhīchí xīn de jiùyè zhèngcè. -->
  - The public rather supports the new employment policy.
- 老板 通常 _比较_ 关注 结果 ，不 是 过程 。
  <!-- - Lǎobǎn tōngcháng _bǐjiào_ guānzhù jiéguǒ, bù shì guòchéng. -->
  - The boss usually pays more attention to results and not process.

## See also

- [Expressing "a little too" with "有点"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22a_little_too%22_with_%22you_dian%22)
- [The "最" superlative](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/The_%22zui%22_superlative)
- [Special verbs with "很"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special_verbs_with_%22hen%22)
- [Expressing "a bit too"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22a_bit_too%22)

## Sources and further reading

### Books

- [Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_1) (pp. 49-50) [Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy](https://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA,)