不如 bùrú not equal to
not equal to; not as good as; inferior to; it would be better to
How to remember 不如: 不 not + 如 as = not equal to.
Characters
How it is used
- 不如 (bùrú) is the standard way to make comparisons of inferiority: A 不如 B (+adj) - A is not as good as B, e.g. 今天不如昨天热 (jīntiān bùrú zuótiān rè) - today isn't as hot as yesterday.
- It differs from 没有…那么 which does the same job more colloquially; 不如 is more compact and common in both speech and writing.
- A very frequent extended use is suggestion: 不如 + verb phrase means 'it would be better to,' e.g. 不如我们走吧 (bùrú wǒmen zǒu ba) - we might as well go.
- Learners often forget 不如 already contains the comparison marker, so don't add 比 before it.
Example sentences
- 百闻不如一见。 Bǎiwénbùrúyījiàn.A picture is worth a thousand words.
- 坐而言不如起而行。 Zuò éryán bùrú qǐérxíng.Actions speak louder than words.
- 我做得不如以前好了。 Wǒ zuò de bùrú yǐqián hǎo le.I don't do that as well as I used to.