Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
不如 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
不如
bùrú
not equal to
HSK 4, c, 10 strokes, rank #3638, Medium
不如
bùrú
not as good as
HSK 4, c, 10 strokes, rank #3638, Medium
不如
bùrú
inferior to
HSK 4, c, 10 strokes, rank #3638, Medium
不如
bùrú
it would be better to
HSK 4, c, 10 strokes, rank #3638, Medium
bùrú(bu4ru2)bu ru T4
1not equal to
2not as good as
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
不如bùrú(bu4ru2)
不如 (bù rú) is a comparative phrase used to express that something is inferior to another or that an alternative option is preferable. It often translates to 'not as good as' or 'it would be better to,' and is commonly used in both spoken and written Mandarin to compare two subjects or suggest alternatives.
Strokes10Frequency#3638DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In conversations, especially when discussing decisions or preferences, 不如 is often employed to suggest a better course of action, reflecting the importance of harmony and consensus in Chinese culture. It embodies a polite way to propose alternatives without directly criticizing the original choice.
Memory tip
Think of 不 (bù) meaning 'not' and 如 (rú) meaning 'like' or 'as'. Imagine a scene where a person is comparing two dishes, saying one is 'not like' the other, which helps you remember that 不如 indicates inferiority or suggesting a better option. Picture a chef looking at a mediocre dish and saying, 'This is not as good as my special recipe!'
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI study notes for 不如
Quick Contrast
不及 (bù jí) — use 不如 when suggesting that one option is better than another, while 不及 emphasizes a lack of ability or quality compared to another.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 不如 with other comparative structures such as 比 (bǐ). It is typically used in informal speech, but can also appear in writing. Common phrases include '不如...好' (bù rú...hǎo), meaning 'it would be better to...'.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 5 word, 不如 connects with other comparative structures and phrases. Students should focus on using it in comparisons and in suggesting alternatives, practicing its use in conversational contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 不如 with other comparative phrases, mistakenly using it in contexts where 比 (bǐ) would be more appropriate. For example, saying '这本书不如那本书' when they intend to say 'This book is better than that book' is incorrect; they should use '这本书比那本书好'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 不如
Premium — Locked
Tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 不如, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 不如 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.
How well do you know 不如?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 不如 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
不如 (bù rú) is a comparative phrase used to express that something is inferior to another or that an alternative option is preferable. It often translates to 'not as good as' or 'it would be better to,' and is commonly used in both spoken and written Mandarin to compare two subjects or suggest alternatives.
When to use 不如
Be cautious not to confuse 不如 with other comparative structures such as 比 (bǐ). It is typically used in informal speech, but can also appear in writing. Common phrases include '不如...好' (bù rú...hǎo), meaning 'it would be better to...'.
不如 or something close to it
不及 (bù jí) — use 不如 when suggesting that one option is better than another, while 不及 emphasizes a lack of ability or quality compared to another.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 不如 with other comparative phrases, mistakenly using it in contexts where 比 (bǐ) would be more appropriate. For example, saying '这本书不如那本书' when they intend to say 'This book is better than that book' is incorrect; they should use '这本书比那本书好'.
Write 不如
不
如
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 不如 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar patterns of 不如
不如 functions as a conjunction — it connects clauses or phrases. Many Chinese conjunctions come in pairs (虽然…但是…, 因为…所以…); use them at the front of the clauses they link. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
