[chinese] grammar is so straightforward and english-similar that when it diverges wildly it throws me and takes forever for my brain to lock it in

comparisons are throwing me

"X is more Y than Z" is "X-compare-Y-Z" wait that IS the same what the fuck why can't I wrap my head around this

我比你瘦

I-compare-you-thin

I am thinner than you

oh that's why

X-compare-Z-Y

not X-compare-Y-Z

you start with both subjects, in descending order, then end with the adjective

when I try to compose sentences my brain just shuts down trying to figure out what order to put the subjects in