A 不如 B · A 有 B 那么……
A is not as (good / …) as B · is A as … as B?
Structure
A 不如 B （+ 形容词） · A 有 B （这么／那么） + 形容词 ？ · A 没有 B （那么） + 形容词
What it means
A 不如 B means “A isn’t as good as B”. A 有 B 那么 + adjective means “A is as … as B”, used mostly in questions.
How it is built
A + 不如 + B (+ adjective): 坐公交车不如坐地铁快 (The bus isn’t as quick as the metro). A + 有 + B + 这么／那么 + adjective: 你弟弟有你这么高吗？
When to use it
After 不如 the adjective is normally a good quality (快, 方便). 有……那么 is for questions, a level now reached (已经有我这么高了), and with 没有 for “not as … as” (h1-19). 这么: B is here or you; 那么: further.
Watch out
The adjective after 不如 or 有 never takes 很. ✗ 那套房子不如这套很方便。 ✓ 那套房子不如这套方便。
Examples
那套房子不如这套方便。
That flat isn’t as convenient as this one.
坐公交车不如坐地铁快。
The bus isn’t as quick as the metro.
你弟弟有你这么高吗？
Is your younger brother as tall as you?
我的房间没有你的那么大。
My room isn’t as big as yours.
Learn this in HSK 2 · Lesson 20: 租房子 (Renting a flat)
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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