How do we use the verb “有/没有” to express the comparisons in Chinese?

Here is a structure:

Subject + 有/没有 + Noun Phrase (+ 这么/那么) + Adj.

The construction “X + 有/没有 + Y + Adj.” is used to indicate whether the quality or characteristic of something (X) is on the same level as another thing (Y).

(“X” represents the quality or characteristic; “Y” represents another thing.)

This type of comparison uses the second object as the criterion. The quality or characteristic being compared is often expressed with an adjective.

For example:

X + 有/没有 + Y + （这么/那么）+Adj.

• 元旦节有春节(那么)热闹吗？

（Yuándàn jié yǒu chūnjié (nàme) rènào ma?）

Is the New Year`s Day as lively as the Spring Festival?

• 我没有姐姐(那么)聪明。

（Wǒ méiyǒu jiějie (nàme) cōngmíng.）

I am not as smart as my sister.

• 弟弟有没有你(这么)高？

（Dìdi yǒu méiyǒu nǐ (zhème) gāo?）

Is your younger brother as tall as you?

The quality or characteristic of the comparison can also be expressed with a verb phrase, which can be

X + 有/没有 + Y + （这么/那么）+ Verb Phrase

For example:

• 哥哥没有弟弟跑得快。

(Gēge méiyǒu dìdi pǎo de kuài.）

The elder brother doesn`t run as fast as the younger brother.

• 你有我(那么)喜欢中文吗？

(Nǐ yǒu wǒ (nàme) xǐhuān zhōngwén ma?)

Do you like mandarin Chinese as I do?

• 同事们有没有(那么)了解彼此？

(Tóngshìmen yǒu méiyǒu (nàme) liǎojiě bǐcǐ?)

Do the colleagues know each very well?

Note that the negative form with 没有 is most commonly used and often found in declarative sentences, while the affirmative form with 有 is less frequently used and often found in interrogative sentences and the answers to questions.

You can check more explanations and more language points in Step by Step Chinese Course 3.