Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar

makiNG ComPariSoNS

33.2

33.2 difference

33.2.1 indicating that noun phrases are different

To indicate that two noun phrases are different, say:

NP 1 不 跟/和 NP 2 一样

NP 1 不 跟/和 NP 2 一樣

NP 1 bù gēn/hé NP 2 yīyàng

NP 1 and NP 2 are not identical/the same.

这本书不跟/和那本书一样。

這本書不跟/和那本書一樣。

Zhè běn shū bù gēn/hé nà běn shū yīyàng.

This book is not the same as that book.

今天的天气不跟/和昨天的天气一样。

今天的天氣不跟/和昨天的天氣一樣。

Jīntiān de tiānqì bù gēn/hé zuótiān de tiānqì yīyàng.

Today’s weather is not the same as yesterday’s.

or

NP 1 跟/和 NP 2 不 一样

NP 1 跟/和 NP 2 不 一樣

NP 1 gēn/hé NP 2 bù yīyàng

NP 1 and NP 2 are not identical/the same.

这个旅馆的房费跟/和那个旅馆的不一样。

這個旅館的房費跟/和那個旅館的不一樣。

Zhège lǚguǎn de fáng fèi gēn/hé nàge lǚguǎn de bù yīyàng.

The room charge in this hotel is not the same as the room charge in that hotel.

C33.1.1

33.2.2 indicating that all noun phrases are not identical

When a noun phrase refers to more than one entity (for example ‘houses,’ ‘dogs,’ ‘two books,’

etc.), use this pattern to say that the entities are not identical.

NP 不 一样

NP 不 一樣

NP bù yīyàng

NP are not identical/same

这两本书不一样。

這兩本書不一樣。

Zhè liǎng běn shū bù yīyàng.

These two books are not identical.

C33.1.2