Difference between revisions of "Superlative "zui""
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− | The most common way to form a superlative (best, worst, fattest, most complex, etc.) in Chinese is to use 最 (zuì) before an adjective. | + | The most common way to form a superlative (best, worst, fattest, most complex, etc.) in Chinese is to use 最 (zuì) before an adjective. |
+ | |||
+ | == Basic Structure == | ||
+ | |||
+ | The structure is: | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
+ | |||
+ | 最 + Adjective | ||
+ | |||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | And now you have the superlative form of the adjective. Unlike in English, this structure is consistent for all adjectives in Chinese. | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Examples == | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="liju"> | ||
+ | |||
+ | * 他 <em>最</em> 笨。<span class="trans">He is the dumbest.</span> | ||
* 你 <em>最</em> 胖。<span class="trans">You are the fattest.</span> | * 你 <em>最</em> 胖。<span class="trans">You are the fattest.</span> | ||
* 我 <em>最</em> 矮。<span class="trans">I am the shortest.</span> | * 我 <em>最</em> 矮。<span class="trans">I am the shortest.</span> | ||
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* 昨天你喝酒喝得<em>最</em>多 。<span class="trans">You drank the most yesterday.</span> | * 昨天你喝酒喝得<em>最</em>多 。<span class="trans">You drank the most yesterday.</span> | ||
* 今天你回来得<em>最</em>晚 。<span class="trans">You returned the latest today.</span> | * 今天你回来得<em>最</em>晚 。<span class="trans">You returned the latest today.</span> | ||
− | * 昨晚你睡觉睡得<em>最</em>早 。<span class="trans">You went to bed the earliest last night.</span> | + | * 昨晚你睡觉睡得<em>最</em>早 。<span class="trans">You went to bed the earliest last night.</span> |
+ | |||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Optional 了 == | ||
+ | |||
+ | Occasionally you'll also see a 了 added after the adjective. This adds emphasis to the "-est." | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
+ | |||
+ | 最 + Adjective (+ 了) | ||
+ | |||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Examples == | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="liju"> | ||
+ | |||
+ | * 他 <em>最</em> 聪明 <strong>了</strong>。<span class="expl">(This 了 is optional)</span><span class="trans">He is the smartest.</span> | ||
* 你 <em>最</em> 瘦 <strong>了</strong>。<span class="expl">(This 了 is optional)</span><span class="trans">You are the skinniest. </span> | * 你 <em>最</em> 瘦 <strong>了</strong>。<span class="expl">(This 了 is optional)</span><span class="trans">You are the skinniest. </span> | ||
* 我 <em>最</em> 高 <strong>了</strong>。<span class="expl">(This 了 is optional)</span><span class="trans">I am the tallest.</span> | * 我 <em>最</em> 高 <strong>了</strong>。<span class="expl">(This 了 is optional)</span><span class="trans">I am the tallest.</span> | ||
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* 我的中国朋友 <em>最</em> 热情<strong>了</strong>。<span class="expl">(This 了 is optional)</span><span class="trans">My Chinese friend is the most enthusiastic.</span> | * 我的中国朋友 <em>最</em> 热情<strong>了</strong>。<span class="expl">(This 了 is optional)</span><span class="trans">My Chinese friend is the most enthusiastic.</span> | ||
* 他的学生<em>最</em> 认真 <strong>了</strong>。<span class="expl">(This 了 is optional)</span><span class="trans">His student is the most serious.</span> | * 他的学生<em>最</em> 认真 <strong>了</strong>。<span class="expl">(This 了 is optional)</span><span class="trans">His student is the most serious.</span> | ||
− | * 黄山的风景<em>最</em> 美 <strong>了</strong>。<span class="expl">(This 了 is optional)</span><span class="trans">Huang Mountain's landscape is the most beautiful.</span> | + | * 黄山的风景<em>最</em> 美 <strong>了</strong>。<span class="expl">(This 了 is optional)</span><span class="trans">Huang Mountain's landscape is the most beautiful.</span> |
+ | |||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==See also== | ||
+ | |||
+ | *[[Expressing "excessively" with tai]] | ||
*[[Positive adjectives with "-ji le"]] | *[[Positive adjectives with "-ji le"]] | ||
− | *[[Expressing "rather" with "bijiao"]] | + | *[[Expressing "rather" with "bijiao"]] |
+ | |||
+ | == Sources and further reading == | ||
+ | |||
+ | === Books === | ||
+ | |||
+ | * [[New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)]] (pp. 15-6) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X →buy] | ||
* [[Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar]] (pp. 571-4) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520066103?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0520066103 →buy] | * [[Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar]] (pp. 571-4) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520066103?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0520066103 →buy] | ||
− | * [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (pp. 344) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792 →buy] | + | * [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (pp. 344) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792 →buy] |
+ | |||
+ | [[Category:A2 grammar points]] | ||
{{Basic Grammar|最|A2|最 + Adj|你 <em>最</em> 聪明。|grammar point|ASG3544U}} | {{Basic Grammar|最|A2|最 + Adj|你 <em>最</em> 聪明。|grammar point|ASG3544U}} | ||
{{Similar|Expressing "excessively" with tai}} | {{Similar|Expressing "excessively" with tai}} |
Revision as of 09:09, 26 November 2013
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Keywords
The most common way to form a superlative (best, worst, fattest, most complex, etc.) in Chinese is to use 最 (zuì) before an adjective.
Contents
Basic Structure
The structure is:
最 + Adjective
And now you have the superlative form of the adjective. Unlike in English, this structure is consistent for all adjectives in Chinese.
Examples
- 他 最 笨。He is the dumbest.
- 你 最 胖。You are the fattest.
- 我 最 矮。I am the shortest.
- 我 的朋友最 有意思。My friends are the most interesting.
- 你的姐姐最 聪明。Your sister is the cleverest.
- 汉语最 难。The Chinese language is the most difficult.
- 我的老板最 严格。My boss is the strictest.
- 昨天你喝酒喝得最多 。You drank the most yesterday.
- 今天你回来得最晚 。You returned the latest today.
- 昨晚你睡觉睡得最早 。You went to bed the earliest last night.
Optional 了
Occasionally you'll also see a 了 added after the adjective. This adds emphasis to the "-est."
最 + Adjective (+ 了)
Examples
- 他 最 聪明 了。(This 了 is optional)He is the smartest.
- 你 最 瘦 了。(This 了 is optional)You are the skinniest.
- 我 最 高 了。(This 了 is optional)I am the tallest.
- 他的女朋友 最 漂亮 了。(This 了 is optional)His girlfriend is the most beautiful.
- 你的老师 最 好 了。(This 了 is optional)Your teacher is the best.
- 我的妈妈 最 辛苦 了。(This 了 is optional)My mother is the hardest.
- 你的记性最 差 了。(This 了 is optional)Your memory is the worst.
- 我的中国朋友 最 热情了。(This 了 is optional)My Chinese friend is the most enthusiastic.
- 他的学生最 认真 了。(This 了 is optional)His student is the most serious.
- 黄山的风景最 美 了。(This 了 is optional)Huang Mountain's landscape is the most beautiful.
See also
- Expressing "excessively" with tai
- Positive adjectives with "-ji le"
- Expressing "rather" with "bijiao"
Sources and further reading
Books
- New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 15-6) →buy
- Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar (pp. 571-4) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 344) →buy