Comparing Things — Breakthrough

What you will learn

Master the art of comparison in Cantonese. Learn to compare people, places, food, and experiences using comparative and superlative patterns. Essential for expressing preferences and making decisions.

Compare two things using A 比 B + adj
Express equality with 同 ... 一樣
Use superlatives with 最
Express preferences with 寧願 and 比較鍾意

Dialogue

Conversation

你覺得香港同東京邊度好玩啲呀？

nei5 gok3 dak1 hoeng1 gong2 tung4 dung1 ging1 bin1 dou6 hou2 waan2 di1 aa3?

Which do you think is more fun, Hong Kong or Tokyo?

兩個地方都好正，但係香港嘅嘢食比東京平好多。

loeng5 go3 dei6 fong1 dou1 hou2 zeng3, daan6 hai6 hoeng1 gong2 ge3 je5 sik6 bei2 dung1 ging1 peng4 hou2 do1.

Both places are great, but food in Hong Kong is much cheaper than Tokyo.

冇錯，不過東京嘅交通比香港方便啲。

mou5 co3, bat1 gwo3 dung1 ging1 ge3 gaau1 tung1 bei2 hoeng1 gong2 fong1 bin6 di1.

True, but Tokyo transport is a bit more convenient than Hong Kong.

我唔同意喎，香港嘅港鐵同東京嘅地鐵差唔多一樣方便。

ngo5 m4 tung4 ji3 wo3, hoeng1 gong2 ge3 gong2 tit3 tung4 dung1 ging1 ge3 dei6 tit3 caa1 m4 do1 jat1 joeng6 fong1 bin6.

I disagree, Hong Kong MTR and Tokyo subway are about equally convenient.

咁你比較鍾意住邊度？

gam2 nei5 bei2 gaau3 zung1 ji3 zyu6 bin1 dou6?

So where do you prefer to live?

我寧願住香港，因為嘢食選擇多過東京。

ngo5 ning4 jyun6 zyu6 hoeng1 gong2, jan1 wai6 je5 sik6 syun2 zaak6 do1 gwo3 dung1 ging1.

I would rather live in Hong Kong, because there are more food choices than Tokyo.

不過東京嘅空氣好過香港好多喎。

bat1 gwo3 dung1 ging1 ge3 hung1 hei3 hou2 gwo3 hoeng1 gong2 hou2 do1 wo3.

But Tokyo air quality is much better than Hong Kong.

呢個倒係嘅。每個地方都有佢嘅優點同缺點啦。

ni1 go3 dou3 hai6 ge3. mui5 go3 dei6 fong1 dou1 jau5 keoi5 ge3 jau1 dim2 tung4 kyut3 dim2 laa1.

That is true. Every place has its advantages and disadvantages.

Vocabulary

Key Words & Phrases

比較

bei2 gaau3

compare / comparatively

比

bei2

compared to (marker)

一樣

jat1 joeng6

the same

差唔多

caa1 m4 do1

about the same / almost

寧願

ning4 jyun6

would rather

優點

jau1 dim2

advantage / strength

缺點

kyut3 dim2

disadvantage / weakness

選擇

syun2 zaak6

choice / option

方便

fong1 bin6

convenient

空氣

hung1 hei3

air / air quality

平

peng4

cheap

貴

gwai3

expensive

Grammar

Language Patterns

A 比 B + adj (A is more adj than B)

Use 比 (bei2) between two things to make a comparison. The adjective follows directly. Add 好多 for "much more" or 啲 for "a little more".

香港比倫敦細好多。

hoeng1 gong2 bei2 leon4 deon1 sai3 hou2 do1.

Hong Kong is much smaller than London.

今日比尋日凍啲。

gam1 jat6 bei2 cam4 jat6 dung3 di1.

Today is a bit colder than yesterday.

A 同 B 一樣 + adj (A is the same as B)

同 (tung4)...一樣 (jat1 joeng6) expresses equality. Place the adjective after 一樣. Add 咁 before the adjective for emphasis.

佢同我一樣高。

keoi5 tung4 ngo5 jat1 joeng6 gou1.

He is the same height as me.

呢兩間餐廳一樣咁好食。

ni1 loeng5 gaan1 caan1 teng1 jat1 joeng6 gam3 hou2 sik6.

These two restaurants are equally delicious.

adj + 過 B (more adj than B)

Another comparison pattern: put 過 (gwo3) directly after the adjective, then the object being compared. More casual than 比. 好過 means "better than", 多過 means "more than".

呢度平過嗰度。

ni1 dou6 peng4 gwo3 go2 dou6.

Here is cheaper than there.

佢叻過我。

keoi5 lek1 gwo3 ngo5.

She is smarter than me.

寧願 A 都唔 B (would rather A than B)

寧願 (ning4 jyun6) means "would rather". The full pattern 寧願 A 都唔 B means "would rather A than B". Expresses a strong preference.

我寧願行路都唔搭的士。

ngo5 ning4 jyun6 haang4 lou6 dou1 m4 daap3 dik1 si2.

I would rather walk than take a taxi.

佢寧願遲到都唔肯跑。

keoi5 ning4 jyun6 ci4 dou3 dou1 m4 hang2 paau2.

She would rather be late than run.

Practice

Test Your Knowledge

Fill_blank · Question 1

香港嘅嘢食 ___ 東京平好多。 (compared to)

Answer

比

Translate · Question 2

These two restaurants are equally delicious.

Answer

呢兩間餐廳一樣咁好食。

Choice · Question 3

What does 寧願 mean?

would rather
definitely
maybe
must

Answer

would rather

Fill_blank · Question 4

每個地方都有佢嘅優點同 ___。 (disadvantages)

缺點
方便
選擇
比較

Answer

缺點

Translate · Question 5

I would rather live in Hong Kong because the food choices are more.

Answer

我寧願住香港，因為嘢食選擇多過東京。

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