Comparative advantage (比较优势)

Comparative advantage (比较优势 bǐ jiào yōu shì) is a kind of advantage (优势 yōu shì) which refers to the condition that the country can produce the same quantity of a good or service with a lower opportunity cost compared (比较bǐ jiào) to another country. Also see: absolute advantage (绝对优势 jué duì yōu shì).

Part 1: Breakdown of Words

• “Comparative” (比较 bǐ jiào) is the antonym (反义词 fǎn yì cí) of absolute (绝对的 jué duì de).
  • “比” (bǐ) as in “competition” (比赛 bǐ sài), “ratio” (比率 bǐ lǜ), or “proportion” (比例 bǐ lì).
  • “较” (jiào) as in “contest” (较量 jiào liàng), “less” (较少 jiào shǎo), or “more” (较多 jiào duō).
• “Advantage” (优势 yōu shì) as in “absolute advantage” (绝对优势 jué duì yōu shì).
  • “优” (yōu) as in “discount” (优惠 yōu huì), “excellent” (优秀 yōu xiù), or “merit” (优点 yōu diǎn).
  • “势” (shì) as in “situation” (态势 tài shì), or “momentum” (势头 shì tóu).