When do I use 比 vs 于?

Use 比 for everyday spoken and written comparisons in the pattern A 比 B + adjective. Use 于 only in formal or literary writing, especially with monosyllabic adjectives in the pattern adjective + 于 + B (e.g., 大于, 优于). In normal conversation, 于 is often inappropriate.

Can I use 于 in spoken Chinese?

Using 于 in spoken Chinese for comparison is grammatically correct but sounds very formal, archaic, or affected. In casual speech, always opt for 比. Exceptions are when quoting a fixed phrase (e.g., 生命重于一切) which may be said in dramatic speech.

Is 于 only used for comparisons?

No. 于 has many other functions: it can mean 'in', 'at', 'to', 'for', 'from' (e.g., 生于北京 'born in Beijing'), or form prepositions like 对于 (regarding) and 由于 (because of). The comparative use is just one specialized sense, most common with adjectives like 大, 高, 优, 重, etc.

Can I replace 比 with 于 in any sentence?

No. The structures are different: 比 requires A 比 B + Adj, while 于 requires Adj + 于 + B. Moreover, 于 is much more restricted in register and adjective choice. You cannot simply swap them; you must adjust the word order and often the adjective. For example, 他比我高 becomes 他高于我, but 他比我漂亮 cannot naturally become *他漂亮于我.

Easily confusedHSK 6

比 vs 于 (bǐ vs yú): spoken vs literary comparison

比 is the everyday spoken comparison marker placed before the standard (A 比 B + adjective), while 于 is a literary/formal alternative placed after the adjective (adjective + 于 + B). They are not interchangeable: 比 covers all spoken and general written uses, whereas 于 is limited to formal, classical, or fixed phrase contexts.

In Chinese, both 比 (bǐ) and 于 (yú) can express comparison, but they belong to different registers and follow different structures. 比 is the standard spoken and written marker used in the pattern A 比 B + adjective (e.g., 他比我高). 于, on the other hand, is a literary monosyllabic preposition that comes after the adjective in the pattern adjective + 于 + B (e.g., 大于, 优于). While 比 is used freely in everyday language, 于 is mostly found in formal writing, classical expressions, and set phrases. Understanding the register and structure is key to choosing correctly.

When to use each

比bǐ

compared to

Use 比 for comparisons in everyday speech and writing. The structure is A 比 B + adjective (e.g., 上海比北京大). It is the default choice for spoken conversations, informal writing, and most formal contexts as well. Negation uses 不比 (e.g., 我不比他高) or 没有 (e.g., 我没有他高).

In very formal or classical writing, 比 can also appear after the adjective in some fixed expressions (e.g., 无比), but this is rare and idiomatic.

于yú

than (literary)

Use 于 in formal, classical, or literary comparisons where the structure is adjective + 于 + B (e.g., 大于, 高于, 优于). It is common in academic writing, news headlines, and set phrases (e.g., 重于泰山). 于 should not be used casually unless quoting or imitating a classical style.

于 also has many other uses (e.g., 对于 'regarding', 由于 'because of', 于 + time/place 'in/at'), so the comparative use is a specific subcase. In spoken Chinese, using 于 for comparison often sounds stiff or pretentious.

At a glance

	比	于
Structure	A 比 B + adjective (他比我高)	adjective + 于 + B (他高于我)
Register	Spoken and general written	Literary, formal, or classical
Adjective type	Any adjective (多音节可)	Typically monosyllabic adjectives
Negation	不比 (e.g., 我不比他高)	几乎没有否定形式（不…于罕见）
Frequency	Very common in all contexts	Limited to set phrases and formal writing
Example pair	他比我大	他大于我（更正式）

Examples

比
他比我高。
Tā bǐ wǒ gāo.
He is taller than me.
Standard spoken comparison with 比 before the standard.
于
他高于我。
Tā gāo yú wǒ.
He is taller than me. (formal/literary)
Literary structure: adjective + 于 + B. Natural in formal writing, odd in casual talk.
比
上海比北京大。
Shànghǎi bǐ Běijīng dà.
Shanghai is bigger than Beijing.
Everyday use of 比 with a city comparison.
于
友谊重于金钱。
Yǒuyì zhòng yú jīnqián.
Friendship is heavier than money.
Set phrase style (重于) – very literary.
比
我不比他聪明。
Wǒ bù bǐ tā cōngmíng.
I am not smarter than him.
Negation of 比 using 不.
于
这种材料优于传统产品。
Zhè zhǒng cáiliào yōu yú chuántǒng chǎnpǐn.
This material is superior to traditional products.
Common in formal/product descriptions; 优于 is a fixed expression.

Common mistakes

Using 于 instead of 比 in spoken conversation (e.g., saying 我高于你 instead of 我比你高) – sounds overly formal or unnatural.
Using 比 after the adjective (e.g., *我大比他) – wrong order; 比 must come before the standard.
Assuming 于 can be freely used with any adjective (e.g., *漂亮于她) – 于 is mostly restricted to monosyllabic adjectives in set phrases.
Confusing 于 in its comparative use with other meanings like 对于 or 由于 – context is key.
Using 比 in a fixed classical expression that requires 于 (e.g., saying *比泰山重 instead of 重于泰山).

FAQ

When do I use 比 vs 于?: Use 比 for everyday spoken and written comparisons in the pattern A 比 B + adjective. Use 于 only in formal or literary writing, especially with monosyllabic adjectives in the pattern adjective + 于 + B (e.g., 大于, 优于). In normal conversation, 于 is often inappropriate.
Can I use 于 in spoken Chinese?: Using 于 in spoken Chinese for comparison is grammatically correct but sounds very formal, archaic, or affected. In casual speech, always opt for 比. Exceptions are when quoting a fixed phrase (e.g., 生命重于一切) which may be said in dramatic speech.
Is 于 only used for comparisons?: No. 于 has many other functions: it can mean 'in', 'at', 'to', 'for', 'from' (e.g., 生于北京 'born in Beijing'), or form prepositions like 对于 (regarding) and 由于 (because of). The comparative use is just one specialized sense, most common with adjectives like 大, 高, 优, 重, etc.
Can I replace 比 with 于 in any sentence?: No. The structures are different: 比 requires A 比 B + Adj, while 于 requires Adj + 于 + B. Moreover, 于 is much more restricted in register and adjective choice. You cannot simply swap them; you must adjust the word order and often the adjective. For example, 他比我高 becomes 他高于我, but 他比我漂亮 cannot naturally become *他漂亮于我.