Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar

less than

33.4

33.4.1 indicating ‘less than’ with 没有/沒有 méi yIu

NP 1 没有/沒有 NP 2 AV

NP 1 méi yǒu NP 2 AV

NP 1 is not as AV as NP 2

我没有他高。

我沒有他高。

Wǒ méi yǒu tā gāo.

I am not as tall as him.

我没有他用功。

我沒有他用功。

Wǒ méi yǒu tā yònggōng.

I am not as hardworking as him.

我没有他(那么)高。

我沒有他(那麼)高。

Wǒ méi yǒu tā (nàme) gāo.

I am not as tall as him.

他没有你(这么)用功。

他沒有你(這麼)用功。

Tā méi yǒu nǐ (zhème) yònggōng.

He is not as hardworking as you.

33.4.2 indicating ‘less than’ with 不如 bùrú

不如 bùrú can be used when comparing two noun phrases, or when comparing noun phrases

in terms of some property. It is used in formal, literary contexts.

NP 1 不如 NP 2

NP 1 bùrú NP 2

NP 1 is not as good as NP 2

论学问，谁都不如赵教授。

論學問，誰都不如趙教授。

Lùn xuéwen, shéi dōu bùrú Zhào jiàoshòu.

As for scholarship, no one is the equal to Professor Zhao.

我的嗓子不如我妹妹。

Wǒ de sǎngzi bùrú wǒ mèimei.

My voice is not as good as my younger sister’s.

NP 1 不如 NP 2 AV

NP 1 bùrú NP 2 AV

NP 1 is not as AV as NP 2

弟弟不如哥哥用功。

Dìdi bùrú gēge yònggōng.

Younger brother is not as hardworking as older brother.

走路不如骑自行车快。
走路不如騎自行車快。
Zǒu lù bùrú qí zìxíngchē kuài.
Walking is not as fast as riding a bike.