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HSK 6 · VERSION 2.0#74

Expressing “By comparison” with “xiāngduì láishuō”

相对来说

xiāngduì láishuō

How it works

相对来说 (xiāngduì láishuō) means “relatively speaking,” “comparatively speaking,” or “by comparison.” It is used when the speaker wants to make a comparison and say that something is true in relative, not absolute, terms.

It is common in careful reasoning and analytical language.

Example sentences

如果从短期效果来看,这个方案未必最好,但相对来说风险更容易控制。

Rúguǒ cóng duǎnqī xiàoguǒ lái kàn, zhège fāng’àn wèibì zuì hǎo, dàn xiāngduì láishuō fēngxiǎn gèng róngyì kòngzhì.

If judged by short-term effect, this plan may not be the best, but comparatively speaking the risks are easier to control.

同样是面对压力,有的人显得非常紧张,而他相对来说要冷静得多。

Tóngyàng shì miànduì yālì, yǒu de rén xiǎnde fēicháng jǐnzhāng, ér tā xiāngduì láishuō yào lěngjìng de duō.

Faced with the same pressure, some people appear very nervous, whereas comparatively speaking he is much calmer.

在目前所有可选办法当中,这种处理方式相对来说更现实,也更容易被接受。

Zài mùqián suǒyǒu kě xuǎn bànfǎ dāngzhōng, zhè zhǒng chǔlǐ fāngshì xiāngduì láishuō gèng xiànshí, yě gèng róngyì bèi jiēshòu.

Among all currently available options, this way of handling things is relatively more realistic and more acceptable.

Key point

相对来说 (xiāngduì láishuō) stresses relative comparison, not absolute judgment.

Source: HelloMandarin · Revised edition, 2026 · PDF p. 358.

Old_HSK_1-6_Grammar_Points_2.0.pdf

Old six-level teaching collection. This is an independent learning reference.

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