Difference between revisions of "Moderating positive adjectives with "hai""
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== Commonly Used Expressions ==
 
== Commonly Used Expressions ==
  
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=== Structure ===
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Besides expressing [[Continuation with "hai"|continuation]], 还 (hái) can also be used to weaken positive adjectives. Used with the adjective "good," this is similar to saying "fairly good" or "pretty good" in English. It's also sometimes used by a speaker to be more modest. Below are some of the most common adjectives that get "toned down" by 还 (hái) in this structure.
  
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Besides expressing [[Continuation with "hai"|continuation]], 还 (hái) can also be used to weaken positive adjectives. This is similar to saying "fairly [good]" or "reasonably [good]" in English. It's also sometimes used by a speaker to be more modest. Below are some of the most common adjectives that get "toned down" by 还 (hái) in this structure.
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== Structure ==
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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</div>
 
</div>
  
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These can all be taken to mean "pretty good" or "all right" or "decent" (but also kind of ''meh''... not ''great''). As in English, intonation and facial expressions help convey the meaning. If expectations were already low to begin with, 还可以 (hái kěyǐ) can have the sense of "pretty darn good;" it all depends on context and tone of voice.
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In this pattern, 好 (hǎo), 可以 (kěyǐ), 行 (xíng), and 不错 (bùcuò) combined with 还 ()hái can all be taken to mean "pretty good" or "all right" or "decent" (but also kind of ''meh''... not ''great''). As in English, intonation and facial expressions help convey the meaning. If expectations were already low to begin with, 还可以 (hái kěyǐ) can have the sense of "pretty darn good;" it all depends on context and tone of voice.
  
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=== Examples ===
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== Examples ==
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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* 我 <em>还 好</em>。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>hái hǎo</em>. </span> <span class="trans">I'm OK.</span>
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* 我 <em>还 好</em>。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>hái hǎo</em>.</span><span class="trans">I'm OK.</span>
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* 爸爸 做 的 菜  <em>还 可以</em>。<span class="pinyin">Bàba zuò de cài <em>hái kěyǐ</em>.</span> <span class="trans">The food that dad cooks is OK.</span>
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* 爸爸 做 的 菜  <em>还 可以</em>。<span class="pinyin">Bàba zuò de cài <em>hái kěyǐ</em>.</span><span class="trans">The food that dad cooks is OK.</span>
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* 我们 老板 <em>还 不错</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen lǎobǎn <em>hái bùcuò</em>.</span> <span class="trans">Our boss is not too bad.</span>
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* 我们 老板 <em>还 不错</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen lǎobǎn <em>hái bùcuò</em>.</span><span class="trans">Our boss is not too bad.</span>
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* 这 家 店 <em>还 行</em>，不太 贵。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jià diàn <em>hái xíng</em>, bù tài guì. </span><span class="trans">This shop is OK. It's not too expensive.</span>
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* 这 家 店 <em>还 行</em>，不太 贵。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jià diàn <em>hái xíng</em>, bù tài guì.</span><span class="trans">This shop is OK. It's not too expensive.</span>
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* 我 男朋友 的 工资 <em>还 可以</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ nánpéngyou de gōngzī <em>hái kěyǐ</em>.</span> <span class="trans">My boyfriend's salary is OK.</span>
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* 我 男朋友 的 工资 <em>还 可以</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ nánpéngyou de gōngzī <em>hái kěyǐ</em>.</span><span class="trans">My boyfriend's salary is OK.</span>
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* 新 的 办公室 <em>还 不错</em>。<span class="pinyin">Xīn de bàngōngshì <em>hái bùcuò</em>.</span> <span class="trans">The new office is OK.</span>
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* 新 的 办公室 <em>还 不错</em>。<span class="pinyin">Xīn de bàngōngshì <em>hái bùcuò</em>.</span><span class="trans">The new office is OK.</span>
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* 我 觉得 这里 的 菜 <em>还 可以</em>，没有 那么 难吃。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ juéde zhèlǐ de cài <em>hái kěyǐ</em>, méiyǒu nàme nánchī.</span> <span class="trans">I think the food here is OK, it is not too bad-tasting.</span>
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* 我 觉得 这里 的 菜 <em>还 可以</em>，没有 那么 难吃。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ juéde zhèlǐ de cài <em>hái kěyǐ</em>, méiyǒu nàme nánchī.</span><span class="trans">I think the food here is OK, it is not too bad-tasting.</span>
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* 这 个 牌子  <em>还 不错</em>，很 多 年轻 人 喜欢。<span class="pinyin">Zhège páizi <em>hái bùcuò</em>，hěn duō niánqīng rén xǐhuan.</span> <span class="trans">This brand is not too bad. Many young people like it.</span>
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* 这 个 牌子  <em>还 不错</em>，很 多 年轻 人 喜欢。<span class="pinyin">Zhège páizi <em>hái bùcuò</em>，hěn duō niánqīng rén xǐhuan.</span><span class="trans">This brand is not too bad. Many young people like it.</span>
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* 房子 <em>还 可以</em>，但是 有 点 贵。<span class="pinyin">Fángzi <em>hái kěyǐ</em>, dànshì yǒudiǎn guì.</span><span class="trans">The apartment is not too bad, but it is a bit expensive. </span>
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* 房子 <em>还 可以</em>，但是 有 点 贵。<span class="pinyin">Fángzi <em>hái kěyǐ</em>, dànshì yǒudiǎn guì.</span><span class="trans">The apartment is not too bad, but it is a bit expensive.</span>
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* 这 个 人 身高 <em>还 行</em>，可是 有点 胖。<span class="pinyin">Zhège rén shēngāo <em>hái xíng</em>, kěshì yǒudiǎn pàng.</span> <span class="trans">This guy's height is OK, but he's a little fat.</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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==See also==
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== See also ==
  
 
*[[Continuation with "hai"]]
 
*[[Continuation with "hai"]]
 
*[[Expressing "rather" with "bijiao"]]
 
*[[Expressing "rather" with "bijiao"]]
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* [[The "zui" superlative]]
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*[[The "zui" superlative]]
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
  
 
=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
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* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 302) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
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* [[Exemplification of Common Sentence Patterns in Spoken Chinese 汉语口语常用句式例解]] (pp. 106-7) [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Exemplification-Common-Sentence-Patterns-Chinese/dp/7301075405 →buy]
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 2|36}}
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* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 366) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)|302}}
 +
{{Source|Exemplification of Common Sentence Patterns in Spoken Chinese 汉语口语常用句式例解|106-7}}
 +
{{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|366}}
  
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 +
{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|还|A2|还 + Adj.|<em>还</em> 可以。<em>还</em> 好。|grammar point|ASGAY164}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|还|A2|还 + Adj.|<em>还</em> 可以。<em>还</em> 好。|grammar point|ASGAY164}}
 
{{Similar|Continuation with "hai"}}   
 
{{Similar|Continuation with "hai"}}   

Latest revision as of 08:57, 21 April 2021

Whenever you want to imply that something is "good," but also kind of "meh," you can use 还 (hái) in front of the "good" adjective.

Commonly Used Expressions

Besides expressing continuation, 还 (hái) can also be used to weaken positive adjectives. Used with the adjective "good," this is similar to saying "fairly good" or "pretty good" in English. It's also sometimes used by a speaker to be more modest. Below are some of the most common adjectives that get "toned down" by 还 (hái) in this structure.

Structure

Subj. + 还 + 好 / 可以 / 行 / 不错

In this pattern, 好 (hǎo), 可以 (kěyǐ), 行 (xíng), and 不错 (bùcuò) combined with 还 ()hái can all be taken to mean "pretty good" or "all right" or "decent" (but also kind of meh... not great). As in English, intonation and facial expressions help convey the meaning. If expectations were already low to begin with, 还可以 (hái kěyǐ) can have the sense of "pretty darn good;" it all depends on context and tone of voice.

Examples

  • 我 还 好。 Wǒ hái hǎo.I'm OK.
  • 爸爸 做 的 菜 还 可以。Bàba zuò de cài hái kěyǐ.The food that dad cooks is OK.
  • 我们 老板 还 不错。Wǒmen lǎobǎn hái bùcuò.Our boss is not too bad.
  • 这 家 店 还 行，不太 贵。Zhè jià diàn hái xíng, bù tài guì.This shop is OK. It's not too expensive.
  • 我 男朋友 的 工资 还 可以。Wǒ nánpéngyou de gōngzī hái kěyǐ.My boyfriend's salary is OK.
  • 新 的 办公室 还 不错。Xīn de bàngōngshì hái bùcuò.The new office is OK.
  • 我 觉得 这里 的 菜 还 可以，没有 那么 难吃。Wǒ juéde zhèlǐ de cài hái kěyǐ, méiyǒu nàme nánchī.I think the food here is OK, it is not too bad-tasting.
  • 这 个 牌子 还 不错，很 多 年轻 人 喜欢。Zhège páizi hái bùcuò，hěn duō niánqīng rén xǐhuan.This brand is not too bad. Many young people like it.
  • 房子 还 可以，但是 有 点 贵。Fángzi hái kěyǐ, dànshì yǒudiǎn guì.The apartment is not too bad, but it is a bit expensive.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

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