B2 Basic Comparisons with "bu bu"

Question 1

这个老师 不 比他的 学生 聪明。

Answer 1

The teacher is not smarter than his students.

Question 2

明星的生活不 比普通人容易。

Answer 2

Those stars’ life is not easier than the folks’.

Question 3

我 不 比 你 适应 现代都市生活。

Answer 3

I am not more accustomed to the life in modern cities than you.

Question 4

我 不 比 你 翻译 得 好。

Answer 4

I don’t translate as well as you do.

Question 5

What is the difference between 不比 and 没有?

Answer 5

The Difference between 不比 and 没有

不比 and 没有 are not exactly the same. 没有 means “not as… as,” whereas 不比 is a direct negation of 比, meaning “not more… than.” Compare the following two English sentences:

You’re not as smart as me. (没有)

You’re not smarter than me. (不比)

You’d probably be more upset to hear the former from a friend than the latter. The two above sentences in Chinese are:

你 没有 我 聪明。 I am definitely smarter than you; we’re not equal in smarts.

你 不 比 我 聪明。 You’re no smarter than I am, but we might be equal in smarts.