Learn Farsi: ببر مانند فیل سنگین نیست. - A tiger is not heavy like an elephant.

In Farsi, the comparison phrase comes before the adjective. So instead of saying 'heavy like an elephant', we say 'like an elephant heavy' (mânand-e fil sangin). The verb (nist) naturally goes at the very end of the sentence.

Is there a hidden sound connecting mânand and fil?

Yes, there is an ezâfe (an 'e' sound) linking them, so it is pronounced mânand-e fil. This connecting vowel is required when using words for 'like' such as mânand or mesl right before the noun you are comparing something to.

Could I use be andâze-ye in this sentence instead?

Absolutely. If you say babr be andâze-ye fil sangin nist, it specifically means 'A tiger is not AS heavy AS an elephant.' Using mânand-e translates a bit closer to 'A tiger is not heavy LIKE an elephant.' Both are completely natural and test the exact same grammar rule.

Why don't babr (tiger) or fil (elephant) have an article like 'a' or 'an' here?

Farsi doesn't use articles for general statements about an entire species. While in English we say 'A tiger' or 'Tigers' to speak generally, Farsi just uses the plain singular noun babr to mean the whole species.