Difference between revisions of "Expressing "excessively" with "tai""
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| − | In Chinese, the simplest structure for expressing | + | In Chinese, the simplest structure for expressing "too" in the sense of "excessively" is by using the word 太 (tài). Don't forget to also add 了 (le) after the adjective to keep your Chinese sounding natural. |
| − | + | == Structure == | |
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | 太 + | + | 太 + Adj. + 了 |
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | As in English, this can express that something really is excessive, or can colloquially express the meaning of | + | As in English, this can express that something really is excessive (often as a complaint), or can also colloquially express the meaning of "so" or "very." |
| − | === | + | == Examples == |
| + | |||
| + | The following examples sound a little bit like a complaint, or a reason for not doing something. They're similar to how we would use "too" in English, and the translations are straightforward. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <div class="liju"> | ||
| + | |||
| + | *米饭 <em>太</em> 多 <em>了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Mǐfàn <em>tài</em> duō <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">There is too much rice.</span> | ||
| + | *现在 <em>太</em> 晚 <em>了</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Xiànzài <em>tài</em> wǎn <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">Now it's too late.</span> | ||
| + | *老板 <em>太</em> 忙 <em>了</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn <em>tài</em> máng <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">The boss is too busy.</span> | ||
| + | *老师 <em>太</em> 累 <em>了</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Lǎoshī <em>tài</em> lèi <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">The teacher is too tired.</span> | ||
| + | *这个 厕所 <em>太</em> 脏 <em>了</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhège cèsuǒ <em>tài</em> zāng <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">This restroom is too dirty.</span> | ||
| + | |||
| + | </div> | ||
| + | |||
| + | In the following examples, the same exact pattern is used to exclaim how ''good'' something is, so these uses are totally ''not'' complaints. The English translations have to get a little more creative to express the same feeling in English. | ||
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * | + | * 你 <em>太</em> 好 <em>了</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>tài</em> hǎo <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">You are so great.</span> |
| − | * | + | * 他 <em>太</em> 帅 <em>了</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Tā <em>tài</em> shuài <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">He is very handsome.</span> |
| − | + | * 这 个 女孩 <em>太</em> 漂亮 <em>了</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhège nǚhái <em>tài</em> piàoliang <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">This girl is so pretty.</span> | |
| − | * | + | * 小猫 <em>太</em> 可爱 <em>了</em> ！ <span class="pinyin">Xiǎomāo <em>tài</em> kě'ài <em>le</em>!</span><span class="trans">The kitten is so cute!</span> |
| − | + | * 你 的 孩子 <em>太</em> 聪明 <em>了</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ de háizi <em>tài</em> cōngming <em>le</em>.</span><span class="trans">Your kid is wicked smart.</span> | |
| − | |||
| − | * 小猫 <em>太</em> 可爱 <em>了</em> ！ <span class="pinyin">Xiǎomāo <em>tài</em> kě'ài <em>le</em>!</span> <span class="trans">The kitten is | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | * 你 的 孩子 <em>太</em> 聪明 <em>了</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ de háizi <em>tài</em> cōngming <em>le</em>.</span> <span class="trans">Your | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | Note for the more advanced learner: This pattern can be used with [[Auxiliary verbs|modal verbs]] (e.g. 会 (huì), 能 (néng)) as well as psychological verbs (e.g. 喜欢 ( | + | Note for the more advanced learner: This pattern can be used with [[Auxiliary verbs|modal verbs]] (e.g. 会 (huì), 能 (néng)) as well as psychological verbs (e.g. 喜欢 (xǐhuan), 想 (xiǎng), 爱 (ài)) to intensify the degree. |
| − | ==See also== | + | == See also == |
* [["Not very" with "bu tai"]] | * [["Not very" with "bu tai"]] | ||
| Line 37: | Line 46: | ||
* [[The "zui" superlative]] | * [[The "zui" superlative]] | ||
* [[Special verbs with "hen"]] | * [[Special verbs with "hen"]] | ||
| + | * [[Expressing "quite" with "ting"]] | ||
| − | == Sources | + | == Sources and Further Reading == |
| − | + | {{Source|HSK Standard Course 1|92}} | |
| − | + | {{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|200}} | |
| − | + | {{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|180-1}} | |
| + | {{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|57) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy] | ||
[[Category:A1 grammar points]] | [[Category:A1 grammar points]] | ||
| + | {{HSK|HSK1}}{{2021-HSK|HSK1}} | ||
[[Category:Adverbs]] | [[Category:Adverbs]] | ||
| − | {{Basic Grammar|太|A1|太 + Adj + 了|<em>太</em> 好 <em>了</em> !|grammar point|ASG8HVFN}} | + | {{Basic Grammar|太|A1|太 + Adj. + 了|<em>太</em> 好 <em>了</em> !|grammar point|ASG8HVFN}} |
{{Rel char|了}} | {{Rel char|了}} | ||
{{Similar|"Not very" with "bu tai"}} | {{Similar|"Not very" with "bu tai"}} | ||
| Line 52: | Line 64: | ||
{{Similar|The "zui" superlative}} | {{Similar|The "zui" superlative}} | ||
{{Similar|Special verbs with "hen"}} | {{Similar|Special verbs with "hen"}} | ||
| + | {{Similar|Expressing "quite" with "ting"}} | ||
{{Structure|Basics}} | {{Structure|Basics}} | ||
{{Used for| Expressing quality}} | {{Used for| Expressing quality}} | ||
Latest revision as of 09:21, 20 April 2021
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Keywords
In Chinese, the simplest structure for expressing "too" in the sense of "excessively" is by using the word 太 (tài). Don't forget to also add 了 (le) after the adjective to keep your Chinese sounding natural.
Structure
太 + Adj. + 了
As in English, this can express that something really is excessive (often as a complaint), or can also colloquially express the meaning of "so" or "very."
Examples
The following examples sound a little bit like a complaint, or a reason for not doing something. They're similar to how we would use "too" in English, and the translations are straightforward.
- 米饭 太 多 了 。There is too much rice.
- 现在 太 晚 了 。 Now it's too late.
- 老板 太 忙 了 。 The boss is too busy.
- 老师 太 累 了 。 The teacher is too tired.
- 这个 厕所 太 脏 了 。 This restroom is too dirty.
In the following examples, the same exact pattern is used to exclaim how good something is, so these uses are totally not complaints. The English translations have to get a little more creative to express the same feeling in English.
- 你 太 好 了 。 You are so great.
- 他 太 帅 了 。 He is very handsome.
- 这 个 女孩 太 漂亮 了 。 This girl is so pretty.
- 小猫 太 可爱 了 ！ The kitten is so cute!
- 你 的 孩子 太 聪明 了 。 Your kid is wicked smart.
Note for the more advanced learner: This pattern can be used with modal verbs (e.g. 会 (huì), 能 (néng)) as well as psychological verbs (e.g. 喜欢 (xǐhuan), 想 (xiǎng), 爱 (ài)) to intensify the degree.
See also
- "Not very" with "bu tai"
- Positive adjectives with "-ji le"
- The "zui" superlative
- Special verbs with "hen"
- Expressing "quite" with "ting"
Sources and Further Reading
- HSK Standard Course 1 (pp. 92) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 200) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 180-1) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
{{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|57) →buy
