Difference between revisions of "Expressing "excessively" with "tai""
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| − | * 他 <em>太</em> 重 <em>了</em>。<span class="trans">He is too heavy.</span> | + | * 他 <em>太</em> 重 <em>了</em>。<span class="trans">He is too heavy/ he is very heavy.</span> |
| − | * 我 <em>太</em> 胖 <em>了</em>。<span class="trans">I am too fat.</span> | + | * 我 <em>太</em> 胖 <em>了</em>。<span class="trans">I am too fat/ I am very fat.</span> |
| − | * 米饭 <em>太</em> 少 <em>了</em>。<span class="trans">There is too little rice.</span> | + | * 米饭 <em>太</em> 少 <em>了</em>。<span class="trans">There is too little rice/ There is very little rice.</span> |
| − | * 大象 <em>太</em> 大 <em>了</em>。<span class="trans">The elephant is too big.</span> | + | * 大象 <em>太</em> 大 <em>了</em>。<span class="trans">The elephant is too big/ The elephant is very big.</span> |
* 你 <em>太</em> 好 <em>了</em>。<span class="trans">You are "too good" [so great].</span> | * 你 <em>太</em> 好 <em>了</em>。<span class="trans">You are "too good" [so great].</span> | ||
| − | * 他 <em>太</em> 高 <em>了</em>。<span class="trans">He is too tall.</span> | + | * 他 <em>太</em> 高 <em>了</em>。<span class="trans">He is too tall/ He is very tall.</span> |
| − | * 小猫 <em>太</em> 可爱 <em>了</em>！<span class="trans">The panda is too cute!</span> | + | * 小猫 <em>太</em> 可爱 <em>了</em>！<span class="trans">The panda is too cute!/ The panda is very cute!</span> |
| − | * 老师 <em>太</em> 累 <em>了</em>。<span class="trans">The teacher is too tired.</span> | + | * 老师 <em>太</em> 累 <em>了</em>。<span class="trans">The teacher is too tired/ The teacher is very tired..</span> |
| − | * 这 个 人 <em>太</em> 坏 <em>了</em>。<span class="trans"> | + | * 这 个 人 <em>太</em> 坏 <em>了</em>。<span class="trans">This person is too spoiled/ This person is very spoiled.</span> |
| − | * 你们 <em>太</em> 幸福 <em>了</em>。<span class="trans">You are too happy.</span> | + | * 你们 <em>太</em> 幸福 <em>了</em>。<span class="trans">You are too happy/ You are very happy.</span> |
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Revision as of 08:03, 27 November 2013
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Level
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Used for
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Keywords
The simplest structure for expressing too in the sense of excessively in Chinese uses the word 太 (tài). But don't forget 了 at the end of the sentence.
Structure
太 + Adjective + 了
As in English, this can express that something really is excessive, or can colloquially express the meaning of so or very. Note that in Chinese, you can say "太好了" which just means "very good" (whereas in English the phrase "too good" sometimes makes it sound like there's reason for suspicion).
Examples
- 他 太 重 了。He is too heavy/ he is very heavy.
- 我 太 胖 了。I am too fat/ I am very fat.
- 米饭 太 少 了。There is too little rice/ There is very little rice.
- 大象 太 大 了。The elephant is too big/ The elephant is very big.
- 你 太 好 了。You are "too good" [so great].
- 他 太 高 了。He is too tall/ He is very tall.
- 小猫 太 可爱 了！The panda is too cute!/ The panda is very cute!
- 老师 太 累 了。The teacher is too tired/ The teacher is very tired..
- 这 个 人 太 坏 了。This person is too spoiled/ This person is very spoiled.
- 你们 太 幸福 了。You are too happy/ You are very happy.
Note for the more advanced learner: This pattern can be used with modal verbs (e.g. 会, 能) as well as psychological verbs (e.g. 喜欢, 想，爱) to intensify the degree.
See also
- "Not very" with "bu tai"
- Positive adjectives with "-ji le"
- The "zui" superlative
- Special verbs with "hen"
Sources and Further Reading
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 200) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 180-1) →buy
