Comparison with 比 (8)

In a 比 comparison, “一点儿” (yìdiǎnr) or “一些” (yìxiē) after the adjective shows that the gap between the two is small.

It is usually rendered as: “a bit …-er” “slightly …-er”

Basic structure

A + 比 + B + adjective + 一点儿 / 一些

Meaning: A is a bit …-er than B.

比(Bǐ)我(wǒ)们(men)一(yì)起(qǐ)买(mǎi)的(de)那(nà)个(ge)本(běn)子(zi)贵(guì)一(yì)点儿(diǎnr)。

A bit more expensive than the notebook we bought together.

比 + 我们一起买的那个本子 + 贵 + 一点儿 than + the notebook we bought together + expensive + a bit

我(wǒ)们(men)一(yì)起(qǐ)买(mǎi)的(de)那(nà)个(ge)本(běn)子(zi)the notebook we bought together

贵(guì)expensive

一(yì)点儿(diǎnr)a bit

Here 贵一点儿 says the difference in price is small.

姐(Jiě)姐(jie)比(bǐ)我(wǒ)高(gāo)一(yì)点儿(diǎnr)。

My sister is a bit taller than me.

姐姐 + 比 + 我 + 高 + 一点儿 older sister + than me + tall + a bit

姐(jiě)姐(jie)older sister

比(bǐ)我(wǒ)than me

高(gāo)tall

一(yì)点儿(diǎnr)a bit

The difference in height here is small.

那(Nà)间(jiān)教(jiào)室(shì)比(bǐ)这(zhè)间(jiān)大(dà)一(yì)些(xiē)。

That classroom is a bit bigger than this one.

那间教室 + 比 + 这间 + 大 + 一些 that classroom + than this one + big + a bit

那(nà)间(jiān)教(jiào)室(shì)that classroom

这(zhè)间(jiān)this one

大(dà)big

一(yì)些(xiē)a bit

Here 大一些 says the difference in size is small.

Both follow the adjective and mark a small difference.

Adjective + 一点儿 or adjective + 一些

Meaning: a bit / slightly …-er.

A + 比 + B + adjective + 一点儿 / 一些

Meaning: it states that the gap between A and B is small.

贵一点儿 — a bit more expensive 高一点儿 — a bit taller 大一些 — a bit bigger