Chinese Grammar: Expressing “even more” with 更

To express “even more,” (as in “even more expensive”, “even more ridiculous”), you can use 更 (gèng). 更 (gèng) generally comes before adjectives.

 

Basic Usage

The pattern in Chinese is simple:

Structure: 更 + Adj.

Note that this pattern is not simply a way of adding “-er” to an adjective or a substitute for 比 (bǐ) comparisons. In each case, you’re adding “even more” to an existing considerable amount, as in, “I’m already rich, but I want to be even richer.”

Examples:

这两个银行哪个更近?(zhè liǎng gè yínháng nǎge gèng jìn) = Between these two banks, which one is closer?

我想找一个更帅的男朋友。(wǒ xiǎng zhǎo yī gè gèng shuài de nánpéngyou) = I want to find a more handsome boyfriend.

我喜欢在网上买书,因为更便宜。(wǒ xǐhuan zài wǎngshàng mǎi shū, yīnwèi gèng piányi) = I like buying books online because it’s cheaper.

不要太高兴,我们还有更多的工作要做。(bùyào tài gāoxìng, wǒmen hái yǒu gèng duō de gōngzuò yào zuò) = Don’t get too excited. We still have more work to do.

结婚以后,她变得更漂亮了。(jiéhūn yǐhòu, tā biàn de gèng piàoliang le) = She’s become more beautiful after she got married.

 

Structure with (bǐ)

While 更 (gèng) is not a substitute for 比 (bǐ) (the classic comparison word), the two can be used together.

Structure: A 比 B + 更 + Adj.

This expresses that “A is even more Adj. than B.”

Examples:

北京的房子比上海更贵。(běijīng de fángzi bǐ Shànghǎi gèng guì) = The houses in Beijing are even more expensive than those in Shanghai.

春节比中秋节更热闹。(chūnjié bǐ Zhōngqiūjié gèng rènao) = Spring Festival is even more boisterous than Mid-autumn Festival.

汉字比声调更难。(hànzì bǐ shēngdiào gèng nán) = Chinese characters are even more difficult than tones.

他现在的女朋友比以前的更漂亮。(tā xiànzài de nǚpéngyou bǐ yǐqián de gèng piàoliang) = His current girlfriend is even more beautiful than his previous one.

中国的高铁比飞机更方便。(zhōngguó de gāotiě bǐ fēijī gèng fāngbiàn) = China’s high-speed trains are even more convenient than airplanes.


Post time: Jun-18-2020