▎跟…一樣, (gēn (Prep)...yíyàng), Comparison

 

Function This pattern is used to compare two people or things and indicate whether they are the same (equal) or not the same. The similar/same quality of the persons or things being compared, if any, follow 一樣.

1 這支手機跟那支手機一樣。

Zhè zhī shǒujī gēn nà zhī shǒujī yíyàng.

This cellphone is exactly the same as that one.

2 我的生日跟她的生日一樣，都是八月十七日。

Wǒ de shēngrì gēn tā de shēngrì yíyàng, dōu shì bāyuè shíqīrì.

My birthday is the same as hers. They’re both on August 17th.

3 他跟我一樣都常游泳。

Tā gēn wǒ yíyàng dōu cháng yóuyǒng.

He and I are the same. We both swim often. (We are alike)

 

Structures A 跟 B 一樣（State VP）, in which state VP is optional.

1 你點的菜跟我點的一樣。

Nǐ diǎn de cài gēn wǒ diǎn de yíyàng.

We both ordered the same dish.

2 我跟我妹妹一樣高。

Wǒ gēn wǒ mèimei yíyàng gāo.

I am as tall as my younger sister.

3 姐姐租的房子跟我租的一樣貴。

Jiějie zū de fángzi gēn wǒ zū de yíyàng guì.

The house that my older sister rents is as expensive as the one I rent.

4 我跟我朋友一樣喜歡看電視。

Wǒ gēn wǒ péngyǒu yíyàng xǐhuān kàn diànshì.

My friend and I are the same. We both enjoy watching TV.

Negation：

(1) The negation 不bù precedes 一樣yíyàng to indicate that the two nouns are different in quality.

1 中國茶跟日本茶不一樣。

Zhōngguó chá gēn Rìběn chá bù yíyàng.

Chinese tea and Japanese tea are different.

2 我跟妹妹不一樣高。

Wǒ gēn mèimei bù yíyàng gāo.

My younger sister and I are not the same height.

(2) The negation marker 不bù, can also precede 跟gēn, but when it does, it negates the object to be compared with, i.e., the 跟gēn… part, not the ‘same’ part. Typically, a 是shì is inserted.

1 他不跟我一樣高，跟小王一樣高。

Tā bù gēn wǒ yíyàng gāo, gēn Xiǎo Wáng yíyàng gāo.

He and I are not the same height. He and Xiao Wang are the same height.

2 他不是跟我一樣高，是跟小王一樣高。

Tā búshì gēn wǒ yíyàng gāo, shì gēn Xiǎo Wáng yíyàng gāo.

He and I are not the same height. He and Xiao Wang are the same height.

Questions：To ask a question, the A-not-A pattern can be used with 一樣yíyàng or 是不是shìbúshì can be placed in front of 一樣.

1 小籠包跟包子一樣不一樣？

Xiǎolóngbāo gēn bāozi yíyàng bù yíyàng?

Is a xiaolongbao the same as baozi?

2 小籠包跟包子是不是一樣？

Xiǎolóngbāo gēn bāozi shìbúshì yíyàng?

Are xiaolongbao the same as baozi?

3 今年的生意是不是跟去年的一樣好？

Jīnnián de shēngyì shìbúshì gēn qùnián de yíyàng hǎo?

Is business this year as good as it was last year?

4 說中文跟寫中文是不是一樣難？

Shuō Zhōngwén gēn xiě Zhōngwén shìbúshì yíyàng nán?

Is speaking Chinese as difficult as writing Chinese?