A 比 名词 还 名词
A is more N than N itself (has N’s typical qualities to an extreme)
Structure
A 比 名词 还 名词
What it means
A is more N than N itself: the second noun stands for the qualities everyone links with it, taken to an extreme.
How it is built
A + 比 + noun + 还 + same noun: 他在北京住了三十年，现在比北京人还北京人 (he is now more of a Beijinger than the Beijingers).
When to use it
Colloquial and exaggerated; it can admire (比老师傅还老师傅) or tease (他比领导还领导, ‘bossier than the boss’). 更 is occasionally seen in writing but loses the punch.
Watch out
Use 还: ✗ 比北京人很北京人 ✓ 比北京人还北京人. Choose a noun with a clear image: ✗ 比桌子还桌子 means nothing.
Examples
这些选手大多二十岁上下，干起活来却比老师傅还老师傅。
Most of these competitors are around twenty, yet when they get to work they are more masterly than the old masters.
他在北京住了三十年，现在比北京人还北京人。
He has lived in Beijing for thirty years and is now more of a Beijinger than the Beijingers.
我儿子才八岁，说起话来却比大人还大人。
My son is only eight, but when he talks he sounds more grown-up than the grown-ups.
Learn this in Lesson 183 · HSK 7–9: 大国工匠 (Master craftsmen)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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