Learn Hardcore Chinese: tā gèng xǐhuan Shànghǎi, tā gèng xǐhuan Běijīng. - He likes Shanghai more; she likes Beijing more.

Use gèng (fourth tone). Here 更 means “more/even more,” functioning as an adverb that increases degree. The other reading gēng (first tone) is used in words like 更衣 (gēngyī, to change clothes) and means “to change/replace,” not applicable here.

Why is 喜欢 written as xǐhuan with a neutral tone on huan?

In modern standard Mandarin, the second syllable of 喜欢 is neutral: xǐhuan. You may see xǐhuān in some dictionaries, but everyday pronunciation is xǐhuan. The neutral tone is short and light compared to a full first tone.

他 and 她 are both pronounced tā—how do listeners know which one is meant?

Context. Spoken Mandarin doesn’t distinguish he/she/it by sound (他/她/它 all tā). In writing, different characters clarify gender, but in speech you rely on context (who was mentioned, what was said before, etc.).

Where does 更 go in the sentence?

Place 更 directly before the adjective or “mental” verb it modifies:

Subject + 更 + 喜欢/想/愿意 + Object You can’t put 更 after 喜欢 or after the object. So 他更喜欢上海 is correct; 他喜欢更上海 and 他喜欢上海更 are wrong.

“More” than what? There’s no 比 here—what is it comparing?

更 usually compares to something understood from context. Here, it contrasts Shanghai and Beijing. If you want to make it explicit:

他更喜欢上海，而不是北京。
在上海和北京之间，他更喜欢上海。
比起北京，他更喜欢上海。 Avoid “更喜欢上海比北京,” which is ungrammatical.

How would I use 比 with this idea?

Comparing two people’s preference for the same city: 他比她更喜欢上海。/ 他比她喜欢上海。(更 adds emphasis)
Comparing his current vs past preference: 他比以前更喜欢上海。
Comparing two cities directly: 他更喜欢上海(而不是北京). With 比, you typically say A 比 B + Adj/V (+ 稍微/一点儿/多了). Don’t say “A 更比 B …”

What’s the difference between 更喜欢 and 比较喜欢?

更喜欢: a clear comparative “like more (than X).”
比较喜欢: often means “rather/quite like,” a soft, non-committal degree; it can be comparative in context, but it’s also used as a hedge. E.g., 我比较喜欢上海 can mean “I kind of like Shanghai” or “I prefer Shanghai,” depending on context.

Can I say 更加喜欢 instead of 更喜欢?

Yes. 更加 is a bit more formal/emphatic than 更. Both mean “even more.” In everyday speech, 更 is more common; 更加 can sound a touch written or emphatic: 他更加喜欢上海。

What if I drop 更 and just say 他喜欢上海, 她喜欢北京?

That simply states each person likes a city, without expressing a preference over alternatives. Adding 更 makes it a comparison (e.g., between Shanghai and Beijing, or against a previous state).

How do I say “also” here? Is 也 compatible with 更?

也 means “also/too,” not “more.” You can combine them if the meaning fits:

他也喜欢上海，但他更喜欢北京。 He also likes Shanghai, but he likes Beijing more. Don’t use 也 when you want a comparative by itself; use 更 for “more.”

How do I negate naturally, and what’s the difference among 不喜欢, 不太喜欢, and 更不喜欢?

不喜欢: “don’t like.”
不太喜欢: “don’t really/particularly like” (milder).
更不喜欢: “dislike even more (than X/before).” It’s comparative; it needs context for what it’s “more than.”

Do I need a measure word with city names after 喜欢?

No. Proper nouns like 上海/北京 are fine as direct objects: 喜欢上海. If using a common noun, you’d use a demonstrative/measure when specific: 喜欢这个城市 (“this city”).

Is the comma “，” between the two clauses correct? Could I use a connector?

Yes, the comma is natural to join two related independent clauses. You can also use 而/而且/但是/不过 for a clearer contrast:

他更喜欢上海，而她更喜欢北京。

Any tone-sandhi issues to watch out for?

更 gèng is fourth tone.
喜 xǐ is third tone, but often realized as a “half-third” in flow.
欢 is neutral.
上 shàng (4) + 海 hǎi (3): no special sandhi.
北 běi (3) + 京 jīng (1): standard 3rd + 1st; no third–third sandhi here. There are no adjacent third tones that trigger the 3→2 change in this sentence.

What’s the difference between 喜欢上海 and 喜欢在上海?

喜欢上海: like the city itself.
喜欢在上海: like being/doing things in Shanghai (the location of an activity). If you mean preference for the city as an object, use 喜欢上海. If you mean “prefer to be in Shanghai (rather than elsewhere),” use 喜欢在上海.

Could I use 爱 instead of 喜欢?

爱 is stronger (“love”). It’s fine for cities (e.g., 我爱上海), but it sounds more intense or slogan-like. For ordinary preferences, 喜欢 is more natural. 更爱 means “love more,” which is stronger than 更喜欢.

Is repeating 更 in both halves necessary?

Not strictly, but it keeps the symmetry and clarity. If you write 他更喜欢上海，她喜欢北京, only the first half is explicitly comparative; the second only states liking, not preference. Repeating 更 makes both halves parallel and unambiguous.