| This article discusses the comparative constructions in Mandarin Chinese, with methods of syntactic analysis, semantic interpretation, pragmatic principles and cognitive concepts. It consists of four parts.The first chapter presents the syntactic performance and semantic behavior of two fundamental concepts (comparison item and conclusion item) in bi-zi-ju. All kinds of syntactic structures of bi-zi-ju with asymmetric distributions of the two comparison items are further pointed out. It also discusses the syntactic performance and semantic restraints of the conclusion item.The second chapter mostly discusses comparative aspects and types for bi-zi-ju. The comparative aspects of bi-zi-ju basically consist of action pattern, quantity and character, etc. for four types. The comparative types express either pure comparison, or metaphor and analogy. On the other hand, when bi-zi-ju expresses comparisons, not to simply express difference, in some forms it also expresses superlative. In addition, this part demonstrates in detail that "X bi Y geng Z" and "X bi Y hai Z" have different forms in function.The third chapter discusses two negative forms of comparative constructions : "meiyou"-ju and "bubi"-ju from different point of views, such as syntax, language meanings and language use. It emphatically demonstrates different functions of language use between the two negative forms.The fourth chapter, from the point of view of comparative linguistics, contrastively analyzes comparative constructions of Chinese and Korean, which further shows syntax and language meanings of comparative sentences of Chinese.The research methods of this article integrate description and explanation, and synchronic and diachronic study, and comparisons between Chinese and Korean.The most important conclusions of this article are the following:(i ) There are four concepts in bi-zi-ju: these are comparison item (including principal partand object), conclusion item, comparative sign and comparative point.(ii) The form of the two comparison items is either symmetry or asymmetry. Symmetry or asymmetry is related with syntactic operations, such as ellipses, implication and movement.(iii) The conclusion item requires particular semantic features; it can be put in its correct place as long as it shows a character of degree and measurement change by itself. So, the comparative character adjective is as all-important choice according bi-zi-ju. In addition, because other predicate parts can show degrees of change or measurement of change, it usually is the conclusion item of bi-zi-ju.(iv) "bi"-structure (bi+comparative object) usually acts as an adverbial modifier, to a great extent, which is the result of the historical development of Chinese.(v) "X bi Y geng Z" and "X bi Y hai Z" are two different function formats. The former objectively states a proposition, not with any viewpoint or attitude of the speaker, whereas the latter is a subjective proposition with the viewpoint of the speaker. In other words, "X bi Y geng Z" is only allowed to be used in a subjective statement; it is a subjective sentence. On the other hand, "geng" and "hai" in bi-zi-ju are different in character and function. In "X bi Y geng Z", "geng " is a proposition component: its function is that it appends degree information to the proposition where it is located. In syntax, "geng" belongs to a degree adverb. The function of "hai" in "X bi Y geng Z" is to express the speaker's attitude or viewpoint or religion, so it is not a degree adverb, but rather a mood adverb.(vi) Negative forms expression of comparative constructions consist of "meiyou" sentence and "bubi sentence - two types. Those two negative sentences have different semantic limits to adjectives that act as a conclusion. The conclusion item of "meiyou"-ju usually requires positive adjectives, while "bubi"-ju requires negative adjectives, which is determined by the difference of utterance functions.(vii) "meiyou"-ju is different from "bubi"-ju in pragmatic functions, "meiyou"-ju...
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