比起【bǐqǐ】

比起 + B names the yardstick, and the rest of the sentence says how A measures up against it. B usually opens the sentence, and 来 can follow it.

The second half is often 更 + verb, for a preference.

比起 or 比

A比B puts both things in one tight clause with the adjective last. 比起 gives B its own clause, which leaves room for a longer comparison and for 很 or 已经. B can also be a whole activity.

比起 can also sit in the middle, after A, with 来.

B comes first

English can tack "compared with B" on at the end. 比起 + B goes before what it's compared with.

• × 今年更忙，比起去年 → 比起去年，今年更忙

The thing after 比起 is the standard, not the winner. 比起他，我高一些 means I'm the taller one.