Chinese Grammar Reference logo

    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing 'not as... as' with 没有 (méiyǒu)

    Comparison
    Negation

    Structure

    A + 没有 + B + Adjective

    Explanation

    没有 (méiyǒu) can be used in comparisons to express "not as... as," indicating that one thing falls short of another in some quality. The structure places the item being compared before 没有 and the standard of comparison after it, followed by the adjective. For example, 扁担没有板凳宽 means "the carrying pole is not as wide as the bench."

    Examples

    • 今天没有昨天那么冷。

      jīntiān méiyǒu zuótiān nàme lěng.

      Today is not as cold as yesterday.

    • 我的中文没有她的好。

      wǒ de zhōngwén méiyǒu tā de hǎo.

      My Chinese is not as good as hers.

    • 这家店的咖啡没有那家的好喝。

      zhè jiā diàn de kāfēi méiyǒu nà jiā de hǎohē.

      The coffee at this shop is not as good as at that one.

    Expressing 'not as... as' with 没有 (méiyǒu) | Chinese Grammar