bǐqǐ fùyìnjiàn, yuánjiàn gèng zhòngyào.

比起 means compared with or when compared to.

So the pattern here is:

比起 A，B 更 + adjective

In this sentence:

• A = 复印件
• B = 原件
• adjective = 重要

So the whole structure means:

Compared with photocopies, the original is more important.

A simple way to think about it is that 比起 introduces the thing being used as the comparison point.

Both can be used for comparison, but they feel a little different.

1. A 比 B + adjective

This is the most basic comparison pattern:

• 原件比复印件更重要。
• The original is more important than the photocopy.

2. 比起 A，B 更 + adjective

This pattern means:

• Compared with A, B is more...

So:

• 比起复印件，原件更重要。

This version often sounds a little more like setting up a contrast or viewpoint: as compared with photocopies, originals matter more.

In many cases, both are natural and mean almost the same thing.

更 means more, even more, or to a greater extent.

In this sentence, it marks the adjective 重要 as comparative:

• 更重要 = more important

Without 更, the comparison would be less explicit. Since 比起 already sets up a comparison, 更 is the natural word to complete it.

So:

• 原件更重要 = the original is more important

This is very similar to English, where we normally say more important, not just important, when comparing two things.

Yes. That is completely natural.

These two are both good:

• 比起复印件，原件更重要。
• 原件比复印件更重要。

They mean nearly the same thing.

A rough difference in feel:

• 原件比复印件更重要 = straightforward comparison
• 比起复印件，原件更重要 = slightly more like as compared with photocopies...

So if you are just learning, the A 比 B 更 adjective pattern is a very useful one to remember.

These are both common document-related words.

• 原件 = the original document / original copy
• 复印件 = photocopy / copied document / duplicate made by photocopying

Breakdown:

• 原 = original
• 件 = item, piece, document-like unit in some contexts

and

• 复印 = to photocopy
• 件 = item / document

So 复印件 is literally something like a photocopied item.

These words are especially common in offices, applications, legal paperwork, schools, and government procedures.

Because in Mandarin, adjectives can often act like predicates by themselves.

So:

• 原件重要。 = The original is important.
• 原件更重要。 = The original is more important.

You do not need 是 before an adjective here.

English says:

• it is important

But Mandarin often says simply:

• it important

with no linking verb in that kind of sentence.

So 原件是更重要 would sound wrong here.

The comma marks a pause after the comparison phrase:

• 比起复印件， → compared with photocopies,
• 原件更重要。 → the original is more important.

This helps show the sentence structure clearly.

The part before the comma sets the comparison background, and the part after the comma gives the main statement.

In speech, there is usually a small pause there too.

Yes, and that is also natural.

• 复印件没有原件重要。
• Photocopies are not as important as the original.

This uses a different comparison pattern:

A 没有 B + adjective

which means:

A is not as adjective as B

So both sentences express the same basic idea, but from different angles:

• 比起复印件，原件更重要。

• Compared with photocopies, the original is more important.

• 复印件没有原件重要。
• Photocopies are not as important as the original.

Very often, yes, it appears near the beginning of the comparison phrase:

• 比起复印件，原件更重要。

But it does not have to be the very first word of the whole sentence in every possible context. It introduces the thing being compared against.

For learners, the safest pattern is:

• 比起 A，B 更 adjective

Examples:

• 比起中文，英文更容易。

• Compared with Chinese, English is easier.

• 比起昨天，今天更忙。
• Compared with yesterday, today is busier.

So yes, it commonly comes early, and that is the easiest way to use it.

Not absolutely always, but it is very common and usually the most natural choice when you are making a simple adjective comparison.

In this sentence, 更 makes the comparison clear and smooth:

• 比起复印件，原件更重要。

If you remove it:

• 比起复印件，原件重要。

that sounds incomplete or at least less natural in most ordinary contexts, because you have started a comparison but not clearly marked the result as comparative.

So for learners, it is best to remember:

• 比起 A，B 更 + adjective

It can be understood either way, depending on context.

Mandarin often leaves number unspecified unless it needs to be stated clearly.

So:

• 原件 can mean the original or original documents
• 复印件 can mean the photocopy or photocopies

In a real-life situation, context usually tells you which one is meant.

For example:

• at a service counter, it might mean the original document is more important than the photocopy
• in a general statement, it could mean originals are more important than photocopies

This kind of number flexibility is very normal in Mandarin.

Not directly.

English than usually corresponds more closely to the basic 比 comparison pattern:

• 原件比复印件更重要。
• The original is more important than the photocopy.

But 比起 is closer to:

• compared with
• in comparison with
• when compared to

So in this sentence, 比起 is not a word-for-word than. It introduces the comparison in a slightly different way.

That is why a natural English translation is:

• Compared with photocopies, the original is more important.

rather than trying to match each word exactly.