与【yǔ】

与 means "with". It does the job of 跟 and 和 in writing: news reports, notices, essays, headings. The 与 phrase goes before the verb or adjective, never after it.

In conversation the same sentences take 跟, and 与 sounds stiff there.

Comparing: 与…相比

与 + B + 相比 opens a sentence and sets up what A is being measured against. The rest of the sentence states the difference, usually with 更 or a change; it doesn't repeat 比.

• × 与城市相比，农村的空气比城市新鲜 → 与城市相比，农村的空气更新鲜

Same, different, related

与 + B + 不同 / 一样 / 差不多 says how A stands next to B. 与 + B + 有关 says A is connected to B, and 与 + B + 没有关系 says it isn't.

Word order

English puts "with someone" and "from something" after the verb. Here the 与 phrase sits before it.

• × 经理明天见面与客人 → 经理明天与客人见面
• × 这里的天气不同与北京 → 这里的天气与北京不同

Between two nouns, 与 also means "and", as in titles: 老师与学生.