🇺🇸 English
HSK 2

Lesson 8 · 这个书包比那个便宜

What you'll learn

Compare the price and size of study items, use `比` for differences, and use `虽然...但是...` to explain a tradeoff.

About 29 min
Two students in a stationery shop comparing bags and cups.
1

Listen and Read

Compare school supplies in a stationery store while practicing comparison and contrast.

小雨
你看，这个书包怎么样？
Nǐ kàn, zhè ge shū bāo zěn me yàng?
Look. What do you think of this schoolbag?
小林
不错。它比那个书包便宜。
Bú cuò. Tā bǐ nà ge shū bāo pián yi.
Not bad. It is cheaper than that schoolbag.
小雨
虽然它不大，但是我很喜欢。
Suī rán tā bú dà, dàn shì wǒ hěn xǐ huan.
Although it is not big, I like it a lot.
小林
那就买这个吧。我还想买一个杯子。
Nà jiù mǎi zhè ge ba. Wǒ hái xiǎng mǎi yí ge bēi zi.
Then let’s buy this one. I also want to buy a cup.
小雨
好，这个杯子比那个杯子贵一点儿。
Hǎo, zhè ge bēi zi bǐ nà ge bēi zi guì yì diǎnr.
Okay. This cup is a little more expensive than that cup.
2

Core Words

These words support the dialogue, grammar, and practice in this lesson.

书包
shū bāo
schoolbag; backpack
杯子
bēi zi
cup
颜色
yán sè
color
喜欢
xǐ huan
to like
便宜
pián yi
cheap
可以
kě yǐ
can; may
3

Core Words

Recognize these for context; they are not the main practice focus.

更
gèng
even more
差点儿
chà diǎnr
almost
贵
guì
expensive
大
dà
big
4

Learning Note

`更` before an adjective makes the comparison stronger. `差点儿 + verb + 了` means something almost happened but did not. For this lesson, just recognize these expressions.

这个杯子比那个更好看。
Zhè ge bēi zi bǐ nà ge gèng hǎo kàn.
This cup looks even better than that one.
我差点儿买了那个贵书包。
Wǒ chà diǎnr mǎi le nà ge guì shū bāo.
I almost bought that expensive schoolbag.
5

Pattern: `A + 比 + B + 形容词`

A + 比 + B + 形容词

Use `A 比 B + adjective` to compare the quality of two people or things.

这个书包比那个便宜。
Zhè ge shū bāo bǐ nà ge pián yi.
This schoolbag is cheaper than that one.
这件衣服比那件便宜。
Zhè jiàn yī fu bǐ nà jiàn pián yi.
This item is cheaper than that one.
6

Pattern: `虽然 + 情况，但是 + 转折结果`

虽然 + 情况，但是 + 转折结果

Use `虽然...但是...` to make a contrast between two ideas clear.

虽然这件衣服很贵，但是很好看。
Suī rán zhè jiàn yī fu hěn guì, dàn shì hěn hǎo kàn.
Although this item is expensive, it looks good.
虽然这个书包不大，但是我很喜欢。
Suī rán zhè ge shū bāo bú dà, dàn shì wǒ hěn xǐ huan.
Although this schoolbag is not big, I like it a lot.
7

Quick Practice

Recognize the comparison sentence.

Which sentence means `This cup is bigger than that cup.`

This cup is bigger than that cup.

8

Quick Practice

Recognize `虽然...但是...`.

Which sentence means `Although it is expensive, I still want to buy it.`

Although it is expensive, I still want to buy it.