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Questions & Answers about wǒmen jīntiān gèng máng.
What does 更 mean in this sentence?
更 (gèng) is a degree adverb meaning “more” or “even more.” It signals a comparison with some baseline, which can be left implicit (e.g., compared to yesterday or to the usual situation). So 我们今天更忙 (wǒmen jīntiān gèng máng) = We are busier today.
Do I need 是 (shì) before 忙?
No. In Chinese, adjectives like 忙 (máng) function as stative verbs and can directly serve as predicates. You say 我们很忙 (wǒmen hěn máng) or 我们更忙 (wǒmen gèng máng), not 我们是忙.
Where does the time word 今天 go? Is 今天我们更忙 also correct?
Yes. Common placements:
- 我们今天更忙。 (wǒmen jīntiān gèng máng)
- 今天我们更忙。 (jīntiān wǒmen gèng máng) Both are natural; putting 今天 first slightly topicalizes “today.”
Can I add 了? What’s the difference between 更忙 and 更忙了?
Adding 了 marks a change of state:
- 我们今天更忙。 Neutral statement of comparative degree.
- 我们今天更忙了。 (…gèng máng le) We have now become even busier (than before); emphasizes a new situation.
How do I make the comparison explicit with “than X”?
Use the 比 (bǐ) structure:
- 我们今天比昨天更忙。 (…bǐ zuótiān gèng máng) We’re even busier today than yesterday. You can also omit 更: 我们今天比昨天忙。 Both are fine; 更 adds emphasis.
Is it redundant to use 比 and 更 together?
No. It’s very common. A 比 B 更 Adj highlights that A is not just more than B, but notably/even more. Without 更, it’s a plain comparison; with 更, it’s stronger.
How do I say “We are not busier today (than yesterday)”?
Two natural ways:
- 我们今天不比昨天忙。 (…bù bǐ zuótiān máng) Not busier than yesterday.
- 我们今天没有昨天这么忙。 (…méiyǒu zuótiān zhème máng) Today is not as busy as yesterday. Using 不更忙 is uncommon unless you’re rejecting an expectation: 我们今天并不更忙。 (We’re actually not busier.)
What’s the difference among 更, 更加, and 更为?
- 更: most common and neutral; works in speech and writing.
- 更加: a bit more emphatic/formal: 今天更加忙 (jīntiān gèngjiā máng).
- 更为: formal/literary: 更为复杂 (gèngwéi fùzá). Rare in casual speech.
How is 更 different from 很 / 比较 / 太 / 还 / 再?
- 更: comparative “more/even more.”
- 很: “very/quite” (often just marks an adjective as descriptive): 很忙.
- 比较: “relatively/quite,” not necessarily a direct comparison: 比较忙.
- 太: “too; excessively”: 太忙了.
- 还: “still/also/and even”: 今天还挺忙 (still fairly busy).
- 再: “again/further,” used for repeated action or in requests/commands: 再快一点. Not used to state “busier today” in this context.
How do I pronounce 更 here, and what about its other reading?
Here it’s gèng (fourth tone). 更 also has a first-tone reading gēng meaning “to change/replace,” as in 更衣 (gēng yī) “to change clothes.” The comparative adverb is always gèng.
What are the tones of the whole sentence?
我们今天更忙。 wǒmen (wǒ = 3rd, men = neutral) jīntiān (1st, 1st) gèng (4th) máng (2nd).
Do I need a degree word like 很 with 更?
No. 更 already provides the degree/comparative marking. Don’t say 很更忙. Just 更忙.
Can 更 modify verbs too?
Yes. It can modify verb phrases and adjectives:
- 我更喜欢这个。 (wǒ gèng xǐhuan zhège) I prefer this more.
- 请更快一点。 (qǐng gèng kuài yìdiǎnr) Please go a bit faster.
Does the sentence mean present or future? How do I say “will be busier”?
Chinese doesn’t mark tense on the verb; 今天 plus context decides the time. To make future explicit, add 会:
- 我们今天会更忙。 (…huì gèng máng) We will be busier today.
What’s the difference between 更忙 and 越来越忙?
- 更忙 compares two points/situations: today vs. some baseline.
- 越来越忙 (yuèláiyuè máng) means “busier and busier,” a continuous increase over time: 我们最近越来越忙。
Is 我们更今天忙 grammatical?
No. The adverb 更 must come right before what it modifies (the adjective/verb). Use 我们今天更忙 or 今天我们更忙.
How can I add “a bit” or “much” to fine-tune the degree?
- A bit: 我们今天更忙一点儿。 (…gèng máng yìdiǎnr)
- Much: typically with 比: 我们今天比昨天忙多了/得多。 (…máng duō le / de duō)
Can I topicalize with a pause/comma?
Yes, for emphasis: 今天，我们更忙。 (jīntiān, wǒmen gèng máng) Natural in speech/writing to make “today” the topic.