比

In Cantonese, 比 (bei2) is a more formal or specific way to handle comparisons. This structure is borrowed from Standard Written Chinese and Mandarin, which explains why the word order is reversed compared to the native 過 (gwo3) pattern and why it sounds slightly more formal. While learners are often taught to use 過 (gwo3) for everything, 比 (bei2) is very common when comparing something to its own past state (e.g., 比以前 bei2 ji5 cin4, 'than before') or when comparing psychological verbs.

Key Components:

• Word Order: Subject + 比 (bei2) + Standard + Adjective/Verb. Note that the standard (what you are comparing against) is placed before the adjective or verb.
• Using with Verbs: For regular action verbs, the native 過 (gwo3) pattern is overwhelmingly preferred. However, 比 can be useful for psychological verbs (like 鍾意 zung1 ji3, 'to like') because using 過 immediately after them can cause confusion with the experiential aspect marker. For example, 佢比我仲鍾意... (keoi5 bei2 ngo5 zung6 zung1 ji3... - 'He likes... even more than I do'). Alternatively, speakers frequently use the native structure 'Verb + [Object] + 多過 + [Standard]' (e.g., 佢鍾意蘋果多過我 keoi5 zung1 ji3 ping4 gwo2 do1 gwo3 ngo5 - 'He likes apples more than me').
• Asking Questions: To ask a comparison question, use the structure 'A 同 B 比，邊個 [Adj] 啲？' (A tung4 B bei2, bin1 go3 [Adj] di1? - 'Comparing A and B, which one is more [Adj]?').
• Naturalness: In spoken Cantonese, using a bare adjective in this structure can sound like a Mandarin calque. It often sounds incomplete because native Cantonese usually adds a degree particle (like 啲 (di1)) to anchor the comparison. To sound natural, speakers almost always attach a degree modifier like 啲 (di1), 好多 (hou2 do1), or 仲 (zung6) (e.g., 今日比琴日凍啲 gam1 jat6 bei2 kam4 jat6 dung3 di1 - 'Today is colder than yesterday'). Keep in mind that the truly natural spoken equivalent for this is usually just 今日凍過琴日 (gam1 jat6 dung3 gwo3 kam4 jat6).
• Much More: To express 'much more', place the intensifier 好多 (hou2 do1) after the adjective (e.g., 佢比我高好多 keoi5 bei2 ngo5 gou1 hou2 do1 - 'He is much taller than me.').
• Exact Differences: To state a specific quantity (like 'two years older' or 'three pounds heavier'), place the amount after the adjective, in the exact same slot as 好多 (e.g., 佢比我大兩歲 keoi5 bei2 ngo5 daai6 loeng5 seoi3 - 'He is two years older than me.').
• Even More: To express 'even more', place 仲 (zung6) or 更加 (gang3 gaa1) before the adjective (e.g., 佢比以前仲瘦 keoi5 bei2 ji5 cin4 zung6 sau3 - 'He is even thinner than before.'). Note how this explicit rule contrasts with 啲 (di1) and 好多 (hou2 do1), which must go after the adjective.
• Aspect Markers: If you are describing a completed change, you can add 咗 (zo2) after the adjective (e.g., 佢比以前瘦咗 keoi5 bei2 ji5 cin4 sau3 zo2 - 'He has gotten thinner than before.').
• Negation: To say something is 'not as... as', speakers abandon the 比 structure entirely. Cantonese typically switches to the 冇...咁 (mou5... gam3) pattern (冇 + [Standard] + 咁 + [Adjective]) or uses 唔夠 (m4 gau3) (唔夠 + [Standard] + [Adjective]). Crucially, never negate 比 with 唔比 (m4 bei2) to mean 'not compared to', as it sounds identical to 唔畀 (m4 bei2 - 'not giving/allowing').

Important Constraints:

• No 比 + 過: You cannot use both comparative markers in the same sentence. For example, *佢比我高過 (keoi5 bei2 ngo5 gou1 gwo3) is ungrammatical. Choose either 比 or 過.
• No 好: You cannot use the intensifier 好 (hou2) directly before the adjective in a 比 comparison. For example, *佢比我好高 (keoi5 bei2 ngo5 hou2 gou1) is incorrect.

Idiomatic Use & Variations:

• 比起 (bei2 hei2): Meaning 'compared to', this is frequently used when fronting the standard of comparison as a topic at the beginning of the sentence (e.g., 比起以前，佢瘦咗好多 bei2 hei2 ji5 cin4, keoi5 sau3 zo2 hou2 do1 - 'Compared to before, he has gotten much thinner.').
• 比唔上 (bei2 m4 soeng5): A very common spoken construction meaning 'cannot compare to' or 'is not as good as'. For example: 呢度比唔上嗰度 (ni1 dou6 bei2 m4 soeng5 go2 dou6) - 'This place can't compare to that place.').
• 比較 (bei2 gaau3): Meaning 'comparatively' or 'relatively', this is used when you want to make a comparison without explicitly naming the standard (e.g., 呢個比較好 ni1 go3 bei2 gaau3 hou2 - 'This one is relatively better.').