không bằng

Not as ... as

Level 2

Không bằng is the standard pattern for saying that one thing is 'not as [adjective] as' something else, or simply that it 'falls short of' it.

How It Works

This pattern is completely neutral in register and is used universally in everyday speech, formal writing, and even modern idioms and jokes. Note that in negative comparisons, không bằng is interchangeable with không như (not like / not as) only when an adjective or adverb is explicitly stated (e.g., không cao bằng and không cao như both mean 'not as tall as'). When used directly between two nouns without an adjective, không bằng means 'inferior to' or 'not as good as', whereas không như simply means 'not like' or 'different from'.

When comparing actions, you can place không either before the verb or before the adverb (e.g., both không chạy nhanh bằng and chạy không nhanh bằng are perfectly natural).

You might hear the famous rhyming joke: 'Phong ba bão táp không bằng ngữ pháp Việt Nam' (The hardships of a violent storm don't compare to Vietnamese grammar). Locals love to say this to playfully claim their grammar is exceptionally difficult!

Examples (5)

  1. Tiếng Việt không khó bằng tiếng Trung.

    Vietnamese is not as difficult as Chinese.

    Word by Word: Vietnamese language not difficult equal Chinese language.

    A standard comparison using an adjective (khó).

  2. Tôi chạy không nhanh bằng anh ấy.

    I don't run as fast as him.

    Word by Word: I run not fast equal he.

    When comparing actions, 'không' can be placed right before the adverb ('nhanh') or before the verb ('chạy'). Both are natural.

  3. Nói không bằng làm.

    Talking is not as good as doing. (Actions speak louder than words.)

    Word by Word: Speak not equal do.

    Used directly between two verbs without an adjective, meaning the first falls short of the second.

  4. Cái điện thoại này không đắt bằng cái kia.

    This phone is not as expensive as that one.

    Word by Word: This phone not expensive equal that one.

    Comparing the degree of an adjective (đắt) between two objects.

  5. Thời tiết hôm nay không lạnh bằng hôm qua.

    The weather today is not as cold as yesterday.

    Word by Word: Weather today not cold equal yesterday.

    Comparing states across different times.

Common Mistakes

  • Over-translating the English 'as... as' structure by adding extra words.

    Tiếng Việt không như khó bằng tiếng Trung.
    Tiếng Việt không khó bằng tiếng Trung.

    English uses 'as' twice ('not as difficult as'), but Vietnamese only needs 'bằng' at the end of the comparison. Do not insert 'như' before the adjective.

  • Placing the adjective after 'bằng' instead of before it.

    Cái áo này không bằng đắt cái kia.
    Cái áo này không đắt bằng cái kia.

    The adjective being compared must come before 'bằng', not after it. The correct structure is 'không + Adjective + bằng'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

không bằngLevel 2Not as ... as

Learn This First

To understand 'không bằng', you first need to know how to negate a statement using 'không' and how to express equality using 'bằng'. Since this pattern typically compares qualities, familiarity with basic noun-adjective word order is also necessary.

Words in This Pattern