Comparing Things and Tracking Change
Chapter in 30 Seconds
Master the art of comparing things and describing continuous change in Chinese.
- Express how things are changing over time.
- Link two actions together to show cause and effect.
- Compare two items to say they are exactly the same.
What You'll Learn
Hey there, language explorer! Ready to take a huge leap in your Chinese journey? In this chapter, we're diving into some super cool structures that will let you compare anything and everything, and even talk about how things change over time. No more just saying 'This is big, that is big'; you'll learn to say 'This is *as big as* that!' First up, we'll master «A 跟 B 一样» (A gēn B yīyàng). With this, you can easily compare two things and say 'A is just like B' or 'A is as... as B.' Imagine shopping and saying 'This shirt is as expensive as that one.' Super useful for everyday conversations and expressing your opinions! Next, we tackle «越来越» (yuè lái yuè). This phrase is your go-to when something is continuously growing or intensifying. Think about describing the weather getting colder and colder, or how your Chinese skills are improving day by day! You'll be able to say, 'The weather is getting *more and more* cold.' It beautifully captures the feeling of ongoing change. But wait, there's more! We also have the fantastic structure «越...越...» (yuè...yuè...). This one's a game-changer! It lets you express 'the more you do X, the more Y happens.' For example, 'The more you practice, the better your Chinese becomes!' – '越练习，中文越好！' By the end of this chapter, you'll be a pro at comparing two objects or situations. You'll comfortably describe gradual changes and even explain how one change influences another. Think about how easily you can chat about the weather, compare items while shopping, or talk about your progress. You'll sound much more natural and expressive. Don't worry, these concepts are easier than you think. Let's go!
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More and More (越来越)Use
越来越to describe a quality or feeling that is continuously growing or intensifying over time. -
Saying 'More and More' with 越来越 (yuè lái yuè)Use 越来越 before adjectives or mental verbs to show that a situation is continuously changing over time.
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Chinese Grammar: The More... The More... (越...越)Use
越...越to show that a change in one thing causes a parallel change in another. -
The More... The... (越...越...)Connect two changing states using
越...越...to show how one action directly intensifies another result. -
Expressing Equality: 'As... as' (A 跟 B 一样)Connect two things with '跟' and end with '一样' to express equality or 'as... as' comparisons.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
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1
Describe a state that is intensifying using 越来越 (yuè lái yuè).
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2
Create complex sentences where one degree of change depends on another using 越...越...
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3
Identify and state similarities between two objects using the 跟...一样 (gēn... yīyàng) structure.
Chapter Guide
Overview
How This Grammar Works
- Subject A + 跟 (gēn) + Subject B + 一样 (yīyàng) + (Adjective/Verb Phrase).
- Example: 这本书跟那本书一样贵。(Zhè běn shū gēn nà běn shū yīyàng guì.) (This book is as expensive as that book.)
- You can also use it with verbs to show shared actions or preferences: 我跟你一样喜欢吃辣。(Wǒ gēn nǐ yīyàng xǐhuan chī là.) (I like to eat spicy food as much as you do.)
- Subject + 越来越 (yuè lái yuè) + Adjective/Verb.
- Example: 天气越来越冷了。(Tiānqì yuè lái yuè lěng le.) (The weather is getting colder and colder.)
- Example: 我的中文越来越好了。(Wǒ de Zhōngwén yuè lái yuè hǎo le.) (My Chinese is getting better and better.) This phrase beautifully captures ongoing change.
- 越 (yuè) + Clause 1 (Adjective/Verb) + 越 (yuè) + Clause 2 (Adjective/Verb).
- Example: 你越努力，成绩越好。(Nǐ yuè nǔlì, chéngjì yuè hǎo.) (The more you work hard, the better your grades will be.)
- Example: 越吃越想吃。(Yuè chī yuè xiǎng chī.) (The more you eat, the more you want to eat.) This pattern is incredibly versatile for explaining cause and effect in a concise way.
Common Mistakes
- 1✗ Wrong: 这件衣服一样贵跟那件。
- 1✗ Wrong: 我的中文越来越好。
- 1✗ Wrong: 越好越学习。
Real Conversations
A
B
A
A
B
A
B
Quick FAQ
Can I use different prepositions instead of 跟 with 一样?
Yes, in many contexts, you can also use 和 (hé) or 与 (yǔ) interchangeably with 跟 (gēn) for the "with/and" meaning in the A 跟 B 一样 structure. However, 跟 is very common in spoken Chinese.
Is 越来越 only used for positive changes?
No, 越来越 (yuè lái yuè) can describe both positive and negative changes. For example, 越来越好 (yuè lái yuè hǎo) (better and better) is positive, but 越来越差 (yuè lái yuè chà) (worse and worse) or 越来越冷 (yuè lái yuè lěng) (colder and colder) are negative or neutral.
What's the main difference between 越来越 and 越...越...?
越来越 (yuè lái yuè) describes a single subject or situation changing progressively over time (e.g., "My Chinese is getting better and better"). 越...越... (yuè...yuè...) shows a direct, cause-and-effect relationship where one action or state influences another (e.g., "The more you practice, the better your Chinese becomes").
Do I always need to repeat the full phrase after the second 越 in 越...越...?
Not always. If the second part is clearly implied or identical to the first, you can sometimes shorten it, especially with adjectives. For instance, 越忙越快乐 (yuè máng yuè kuàilè) (The busier, the happier) is perfectly natural, omitting a full verb phrase.
Cultural Context
Key Examples (8)
最近天气越来越冷了。
The weather has been getting colder and colder lately.
Saying 'More and More' with 越来越 (yuè lái yuè)The more, the better.
The more stuff there is, the better.
Chinese Grammar: The More... The More... (越...越)The more you practice, the more fluent your Chinese will become.
The more you practice, the more fluent your Chinese becomes.
Chinese Grammar: The More... The More... (越...越)Tips & Tricks (4)
Add '了'
Drop the '很'
Keep it short
Keep it simple
Key Vocabulary (7)
Real-World Preview
Shopping at the Mall
Language Progress
Review Summary
- Subj. + 越来越 + Adj./Verb
- 越 + Action A + 越 + Action B/Adj.
- A + 跟 + B + 一样 (+ Adj.)
Common Mistakes
You cannot use '很' (hěn) with '越来越' because '越来越' already contains the meaning of 'very' or 'more'.
Learners often forget '一样' (yīyàng) and just say 'A 跟 B 贵', which is incorrect. You need '一样' to complete the comparison.
In the '越...越...' structure, the subject must come before the '越', not after it.
Rules in This Chapter (5)
Next Steps
You've just unlocked a huge part of natural-sounding Chinese. Keep practicing these structures, and you'll find yourself describing the world with much more color!
Look at the weather forecast and describe the temperature change for the week using 越来越.
Find two similar items in your room and compare them using 跟...一样.
Quick Practice (10)
Find and fix the mistake:
他越来越更帅了。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: More and More (越来越)
Which is the negative?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expressing Equality: 'As... as' (A 跟 B 一样)
他 ___ 我一样高。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expressing Equality: 'As... as' (A 跟 B 一样)
天气___冷了。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Saying 'More and More' with 越来越 (yuè lái yuè)
Which is correct?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expressing Equality: 'As... as' (A 跟 B 一样)
Which is correct?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Saying 'More and More' with 越来越 (yuè lái yuè)
Which is correct?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Chinese Grammar: The More... The More... (越...越)
Which is correct?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: The More... The... (越...越...)
这件衣服跟那件一样 ___。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expressing Equality: 'As... as' (A 跟 B 一样)
Which is correct?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: More and More (越来越)
Score: /10
