How to say “not as… as” in Chinese with 不如 (bùrú)
A + 不如 (bùrú) + B + (那么 (nàme) + Adj.)
不如 (bù rú) — not as… as
A + 不如 (bùrú) + B + (那么 (nàme) + Adj.)
HSK 5Verbs不如 (bù rú) — not as… as
Rule structure
不如 (bùrú) means "not as good as, inferior to". It can also be used as a verb meaning "would rather" (不如 (bùrú) + Verb).
Rule structure
不如 (bùrú) means "not as good as, inferior to". It can also be used as a verb meaning "would rather" (不如 (bùrú) + Verb).
Examples
我不如他聪明。
Wǒ bùrú tā cōngming.
I am not as smart as him.
Examples
我不如他聪明。
Wǒ bùrú tā cōngming.
I am not as smart as him.
Build the sentence
Drag the characters to put them in the correct order
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “not as… as” in Chinese with 不如?
Use the structure: A + 不如 (bùrú) + B + (那么 (nàme) + Adj.). For example: 我不如他聪明。 — “I am not as smart as him.”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
我不如他聪明。 — “I am not as smart as him.”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 5.
Tomyo
Learn Chinese grammar with smart reviews
Grammar explanations, exercises and spaced repetition — all in one app.
More HSK 5 grammar rules
算 — counting as, considering
Subj. + 算 (suàn) + (是 (shì)) + Noun / Adj.
难怪 — hard to blame
这 (zhè) / 也 (yě) + 难怪 (nánguài) + Person
什么 — rhetorical disapproval
Verb + 什么 (shénme) + (Obj.) (rhetorical disapproval)
化 — making -ize/-ify verbs
Noun / Adj. + 化 (huà) → Verb (to -ize/-ify)
像 — comparing with “like”
A + 像 (xiàng) + B + 一样 (yíyàng) / 这么 (zhème) / 那么 (nàme) + Adj.
显得 vs 看起来 — looks vs seems
Subj. + 显得 (xiǎnde) + Adj. (shows quality) / Subj. + 看起来 (kànqǐlái) + Adj. (looks)
比起 — compared with
比起 (bǐqǐ) + B + (来 (lái)), A + 更 (gèng) / 比较 (bǐjiào) + Adj.
看起来 vs 看来 — seem, look like
看起来 (kànqǐlái) + Adj. (visual impression) / 看来 (kànlái) + Clause (inference)