Chinese Grammar: The Bitchiest Comparison Word of All: 比起

Sometimes, there are words like that. They have a funny name and are a pain to work with. Lucky for you, 比起 isn't like that. Lupishu knows 比起 sounds very close to 比, and imagine his relief when he realized this comparison word was actually super easy to use! So let's dive in and learn how to use this advanced way of making a comparison in Chinese.

Structure

As expected, you use 比起 to compare things. You'll use it to say that 比起 that, this is better.

First things first, let's look at 比起.

You remember 比, the great comparer and its 'naughty' 不比 counterpart. Add to the 比 a 起, the particle that rises and you get a more advanced way of comparing things: 比起. So when you're tired of comparing with 比, try with 比起. As a mnemonic, try remembering 比起 is the bitchiest word of comparison.

You can use 比起 on its own. Just place it in front of the element which pales in comparison. It's usually placed at the beginning of the sentence or phrase, like so:

[比起 B, A...]

In this structure, A is the object of comparison, and B is the object it's being unfavorably compared with.
Let's say I like cherries more than apples. 樱桃(cherry) will be A, what I like best, and 苹果 (apple) will be B. Like so:

比起 苹果 我 更 喜欢 樱桃。

As you may have noticed from the sentence above, often, you'll also find a 更 in the second part, to show how this part is more something or an improvement. 更 as you'll remember is also a comparison word. Together, the two form a comparison powerhouse.

Like so

[比起 B，更 A]

比起 成龙， 更加 喜欢 李连杰 Compared to Jackie Chan, I prefer Jet Li.

Lastly, 比起 also often comes with 来 to form this structure:

[(A) 跟 B 比起 (+ 来), A...] 跟 狗 比起 来 ， 我 更 喜欢 猫。 Compared with dogs, I like cats more.

Mind you, you can also say:

猫 跟 狗 比起 来 ， 我 更 喜欢 猫。 Between cats and dogs, I like cats more.

Or the simpler:

狗比起，我更喜欢猫 Compared to dogs, I like cats better.

Examples

比起 输赢，比赛 的 过程 更为 重要。
The process of the game is more important than willing or losing (the outcome).

比起 与 人 相处 ， 他 和 电脑 打交道 更 能 应付自如。
Compared to being in contact with people, he's more comfortable dealing with computers.

跟 样品 比起 来 ， 是 能 明显 看出 来 大货 更 鲜艳。
Compared to the samples, you can tell the mass products are more colorful.

比起 爱情小说，他 更 喜欢 历史 小说。
He much prefers historical fiction to romance novels.

这 听 上去 有 难度，可是 比起 全职 工作 来 ， 就是 小意思 了 。
This sounds hard, but compared to working full-time, it's a mere trifle.

比起 上海 ， 我 老家 的 物价 便宜 多 了。
Compared to Shanghai, the prices in my hometown are much cheaper.

So there you have it! The '比起est' comparison word in your Chinese language arsenal! No, not really. But it's definitely a handy word to know to switch up your comparison game in Mandarin Chinese!

In addition to 更, 比起 likes having other words like 多 hang out with them.