Expressing "simply" with "jianzhi"

简直 (jiǎnzhí) is similar to "simply" or "completely" in English, and can be used to modify adjectives or verbs, adding a tone of amazement on the part of the speaker.

Used as "simply"

Basic structure

Subj. + 简直 + Predicate

Examples

• 这里 简直 是 天堂！Zhèlǐ jiǎnzhí shì tiāntáng!This place is simply heaven.
• 他 唱歌 简直 难听 死了 ！Tā chànggē jiǎnzhí nántīng sǐ le!His singing is simply awful!
• 你 男 朋友 简直 太 帅 了 ！Nǐ nán péngyou jiǎnzhí tài shuài le!Your boyfriend is simply gorgeous!
• 我 简直 不 明白 他 为什么 这么 傻 ！Wǒ jiǎnzhí bù míngbái tā wèishéme zhème shǎ!I just don't understand why he's so stupid.
• 我 简直 不 知道 怎么 教 这样 的 学生 ！Wǒ jiǎnzhí bù zhīdào zěnme jiào zhèyàng de xuéshēng!I just don't know how I am supposed to teach such kinds of students.
• 妈妈 做 的 蛋糕 好吃 极了， 简直 比 商店 卖 的 蛋糕 还 好吃！Māmā zuò de dàngāo hǎochī jíle, jiǎnzhí bǐ shāngdiàn mài de dàngāo hái hǎochī!The cake mom made is delicious, compared to the cake you can buy in stores it is still better.
• 我 听到 这个 消息， 简直 像 吃 了 一 块 非常 甜的 糖。Wǒ tīng dào zhège xiāoxī, jiǎnzhí xiàng chīle yīkuài fēicháng tián de táng.I heard this news and it was like eating a super sweet piece of candy.

However, although it is possible in English to say something is "simply beautiful," in Chinese, 简直 cannot be followed directly by an unmodified adjective. Check out the following examples:

• 她 简直 漂亮 ！
• 她 简直 很 漂亮 ！

• 她 简直 太 漂亮 了 ！Tā jiǎnzhí tài piàoliangle!She is simply too pretty!
• 她 简直 漂亮 极 了 !Tā jiǎnzhí piàoliang jíle!She is just so pretty!

Used as "basically"

When followed immediately by 是, the word 简直 takes on a meaning similar to "basically." Notice also that it's not an adjectival phrase that follows, but a verb phrase.

Structure

Subj. + 简直 + 是 + Predicate

Examples

• 他 简直 是 骗 人 。Tā jiǎnzhí shì piàn rén.He's just lying to you.
• 你 简直 是 多管闲事 。Nǐ jiǎnzhí shì duō guǎn xiánshì.You are simply too nosy.
• 这 个 小狗 简直 是 可爱 极了，越 看 越 喜欢。Zhè gè xiǎo gǒu jiǎnzhí shì kě'ài jí le, yuè kàn yuè xǐhuān.This puppy is just too cute, the more you look at him the more you like him.
• 他们 简直 就是 在 抄 我们 的 创意 。Tāmen jiǎnzhí jiùshì zài chāo wǒmen de chuàngyì.They are basically stealing our creativity.
• 你这样做，简直 是 在 破坏 气氛。Nǐ zhèyàng zuò, jiǎnzhí shì zài pòhuài qìfēn.What you are doing is basically destroying the atmosphere.
• 他 是 羽毛球 冠军，和 你 打 羽毛球 简直 是 太 简单 了 。Tā shì yǔmáoqiú guànjūn, hé nǐ dǎ yǔmáoqiú jiǎnzhí shì tài jiǎndān le.He is a badminton champion, and playing badminton against you is simply too easy.
• 我 一 个 月 没 吃 肉 了，简直 是 在 挑战 我 自己。Wǒ yī gè yuè méi chī ròule, jiǎnzhí shì zài tiǎozhàn wǒ zìjǐ.I didn't eat meat for a month just to challenge myself.

Sources and further reading

Books

• Boya Chinese Upper Intermediate 1 (博雅汉语中级冲刺篇) (pp. 115) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) (pp. 134-6) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 225) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (pp. 67) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy

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