Making judgments with "suan"

The word 算 (suàn) has a number of uses which can be translated in a number of ways. None of these is particularly hard to understand, but for the sake of clarity, we've brought them all together in one place. The common theme is that 算 indicates some kind of judgment, and may be thought of as "counts as" or "is considered to be."

Used with A Noun

Structure

Subj. (+ 不) + 算 + Noun

Examples

• 这 算 秘密 吗 ？Zhè suàn mìmì ma?Do you consider this as a secret?
• 她 算 不 算 你 女朋友 ？Tā suàn bu suàn nǐ nǚpéngyou?Can she be considered as your girlfriend or not?
• 美国 的 中国 菜 算 中国 菜 吗 ？Měiguó de Zhōngguó cài suàn Zhōngguó cài ma?Can American Chinese food be considered as Chinese food?
• 我们 认识 ，但是 不 算 朋友 。Wǒmen rènshi, dànshì bù suàn péngyou.We know each other, but we don't consider each other as friends.

Used with An Adjective

Affirmative Form

算 can also be used with an adjective. It has an implication of comparison.

Structure

Subj. + 算 (是) + Adj. + 的

Examples

• 这 家 店 的 东西 算 便宜 的 。Zhè jiā diàn de dōngxi suàn piányi de.The things in this shop are fairly cheap.
• 我 女儿 算 听话 的 。Wǒ nǚér suàn tīnghuà de.My daughter fairly does what it's told.
• 在 我们 公司 ，我 算 年轻 的 。Zài wǒmen gōngsī, wǒ suàn niánqīng de.I'm fairly young in our company.
• 你 老板 算 大方 的 ，我 老板 更 小气 。Nǐ lǎobǎn suàn dàfang de, wǒ lǎobǎn gèng xiǎoqì.Your boss is fairly generous. My boss is even more stingy.

Negative Form

Structure

Subj. + 不 + 算 (+ Adv.) + Adj.

Note that you don't need add a 的 here.

Examples

• 这 次 考试 不 算 难 。Zhè cì kǎoshì bù suàn nán.This examination can't considered difficult.
• 三十 岁 结婚 不 算 晚 。Sānshí suì jiéhūn bù suàn wǎn.It can't be considered to be late to get married at 30.
• 他 才 一 米 七五 ，不 算 高 。Tā cái yī mǐ qī wǔ, bù suàn gāo.He's only 1.75 meter. He can't be considered to be very tall.
• 剪 个 头发 五十 块 ，不 算 贵 。Jiǎn gè tóufa wǔshí kuài, bù suàn guì.Fifty kuai for a haircut. It can't be considered expensive.

Colloquial Sayings

A few common examples:

• 算 你 狠！Suàn nǐ hěn!Well aren't you!
• 你 算 老几 ？Nǐ suàn lǎojǐ?Who do you think you are?
• 这 不 算 什么 。Zhè bù suàn shénme.It's no big deal.