Level 2 · Elementary

Not as … as: 没有

A + 没有 + B (+ 这么/那么) + Adj.  ·  Traditional: A + 沒有 + B (+ 這麼/那麼) + Adj.

The everyday way to negate a comparison is 没有: 我没有他高 "I'm not as tall as him". It flips a 比 sentence around.

You can add 这么/那么 ("this/that ...") for emphasis: 昨天没有今天这么热 "yesterday wasn't as hot as today".

Examples

没有他高。
沒有他高。
wǒ méi yǒu tā gāo
I'm not as tall as him.
昨天没有今天热。
昨天沒有今天熱。
zuó tiān méi yǒu jīn tiān rè
Yesterday wasn't as hot as today.
这个菜没有那个好吃。
這個菜沒有那個好吃。
zhè ge cài méi yǒu nà ge hǎo chī
This dish isn't as tasty as that one.
我的中文没有你的好。
我的中文沒有你的好。
wǒ de zhōng wén méi yǒu nǐ de hǎo
My Chinese isn't as good as yours.

Related grammar points

Practice this pattern in graded stories like We Stop Comparing (Part 1) inside the Literate Chinese app.

Grammar sticks when you read it in stories

Every grammar point in this guide is built into the Literate Chinese app, with graded stories that use the pattern naturally and flashcards matched to the words you know — in Mainland or Taiwan Mandarin. Free on iOS and Android.

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