Difference between revisions of "Superlative "zui""

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
The most common way to form a superlative (best, worst, fattest, most complex, etc.) in Chinese is to use 最 (zuì) before an adjective. \r\n== Basic Structure ==\r\nThe structure is:\r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\n最 + Adjective\r\n</div>\r\nAnd now you have the superlative form of the adjective. Unlike in English, this structure is consistent for all adjectives in Chinese.\r\n== Examples ==\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 他 <em>最</em> 笨。<span class="trans">He is the dumbest.</span>
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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.  
 +
 
 +
== Basic Structure ==
 +
 
 +
The structure is:
 +
 
 +
<div class="jiegou">
 +
 
 +
+ 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>\r\n</div>\r\n== Optional 了 ==\r\nOccasionally you'll also see a 了 added after the adjective.  This adds emphasis to the "-est."\r\n<div class="jiegou">\r\n最 + Adjective (+ 了)\r\n</div>\r\n== Examples ==\r\n<div class="liju">\r\n* 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>
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*  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">
 +
 
 +
+ 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>\r\n</div>\r\n==See also==\r\n*[[Expressing "excessively" with tai]]
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* 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>
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 +
</div>
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==See also==
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 +
*[[Expressing "excessively" with tai]]
 
*[[Positive adjectives with "-ji le"]]
 
*[[Positive adjectives with "-ji le"]]
*[[Expressing "rather" with "bijiao"]]\r\n== Sources and further reading ==\r\n=== Books ===\r\n* [[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]  
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*[[Expressing "rather" with "bijiao"]]
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== 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]\r\n[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
+
* [[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

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:

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

  • 笨。He is the dumbest.
  • 胖。You are the fattest.
  • 矮。I am the shortest.
  • 我 的朋友 有意思。My friends are the most interesting.
  • 你的姐姐 聪明。Your sister is the cleverest.
  • 汉语 难。The Chinese language is the most difficult.
  • 我的老板 严格。My boss is the strictest.
  • 昨天你喝酒喝得多 。You drank the most yesterday.
  • 今天你回来得晚 。You returned the latest today.
  • 昨晚你睡觉睡得早 。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

  • 聪明 (This 了 is optional)He is the smartest.
  • (This 了 is optional)You are the skinniest.
  • (This 了 is optional)I am the tallest.
  • 他的女朋友 漂亮 (This 了 is optional)His girlfriend is the most beautiful.
  • 你的老师 (This 了 is optional)Your teacher is the best.
  • 我的妈妈 辛苦 (This 了 is optional)My mother is the hardest.
  • 你的记性(This 了 is optional)Your memory is the worst.
  • 我的中国朋友 热情(This 了 is optional)My Chinese friend is the most enthusiastic.
  • 他的学生 认真 (This 了 is optional)His student is the most serious.
  • 黄山的风景(This 了 is optional)Huang Mountain's landscape is the most beautiful.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books