Difference between revisions of "Negative adjectives with "-si le""
 
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In English, you might use the expression "you scared me to death!" In Chinese,  死了 (sǐ le) is used similarly to intensify an adjective with an unpleasant connotation.
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== Structure ==
  
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We might say things in English like "you scared me to death!". In Chinese, you can say a lot of things "to death" to negatively intensify what you want to say. To express the opposite you would use [[Positive adjectives with "-ji le"|极了]].
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The "Subject" part below is actually optional, you can still make your over-the-top exclamations without it.
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<div class="jiegou">
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Adj. + 死了
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</div>
  
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== Structure ==
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This structure is technically a kind of [[degree complement]].
  
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One way to intensify negative adjectives is to put 死了 (sǐle) after them. This is very similar to the phrase "to death" in English.
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== Examples ==
  
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<div class="jiegou">
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<div class="liju">
  
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Subject + Negative adjective + 死了
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*我 <strong>饿</strong> <em>死了</em>。<span class="expl">Literally, "hungry to death"</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>è </strong> <em>sǐ le</em>! </span><span class="trans">I'm starving! </span>
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*今天 <strong>累</strong> <em>死了</em>。<span class="expl">Literally, "tired to death"</span><span class="pinyin">Jīntiān <strong>lèi </strong> <em>sǐ le</em>! </span><span class="trans">Today was so exhausting!</span>
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*<strong>热</strong> <em>死了</em>！<span class="expl">Literally, "hot to death"</span><span class="pinyin"><Strong>Rè </strong> <em>sǐ le</em>! </span><span class="trans">It's ridiculously hot! </span>
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*这 几 天 <strong>忙</strong> <em>死了</em>。<span class="expl">Literally, "busy to death"</span><span class="pinyin"> Zhè jǐ tiān <strong>máng </strong> <em>sǐ le</em>! </span><span class="trans">It's been so terribly busy these days! </span>
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*这 件 衣服 <strong>丑</strong> <em>死了</em>。<span class="expl">Literally, "ugly to death"</span><span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn yīfu <strong>chǒu</strong> <em>sǐ le</em>! </span><span class="trans">This clothing is totally hideous! </span>
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*你 的 房间 <strong>脏</strong> <em>死了</em>。<span class="expl">Literally, "dirty to death"</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐ de fángjiān <strong>zāng</strong> <em>sǐ le</em>! </span><span class="trans">Your room is absolutely filthy! </span>
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*<strong>吵</strong> <em>死了</em>！<span class="expl">Literally, "noisy to death"</span><span class="pinyin"><strong>Chǎo</strong> <em>sǐ le</em>! </span><span class="trans">It's so terribly noisy! </span>
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*这里 的 东西 <strong>贵</strong> <em>死了</em>。<span class="expl pdf-short-expl">Literally, "expensive to death"</span><span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ de dōngxi <strong>guì </strong><em>sǐ le</em>! </span><span class="trans">The things here are criminally expensive! </span>
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*我们 都 <strong>急</strong> <em>死了</em>。<span class="expl">Literally, "anxious to death"</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dōu <Strong>jí</strong> <em>sǐ le</em>! </span><span class="trans">We are all so terribly anxious! </span>
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*这个 孩子 <strong>烦</strong> <em>死了</em>。<span class="expl">Literally, "annoying to death"</span><span class="pinyin">Zhège háizi <Strong>fán</strong> <em>sǐ le</em>! </span><span class="trans">This kid is so freaking annoying! </span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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Note that this structure is a [[degree complement]] (called 程度补语 in Chinese).
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None of these sentences actually refers to someone dying. Instead the word 死了 (sǐ le) and the structure is simply used to intensify an adjective. Notice how these are awkward to translate into English; the translations above took a number of different angles to create the same impact as -死了 (sǐ le) does in Chinese. You might say that -死了 (sǐ le) is much more versatile in Chinese than the English expression "to death."
  
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== Examples ==
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== For Positive Connotations ==
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Traditionally, -死了 (sǐ le) is only for adjectives with negative connotations, while positive connotations use a similar degree complement, [[Positive adjectives with "-ji le"|极了 (jí le)]]. In recent years, however, it's become quite popular to also use -死了 (sǐ le) with positive adjectives:
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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* 我 饿 <em>死了</em>。
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*哇，<strong>可爱</strong> <em>死了</em> ！<span class="expl">Literally, "cute to death"</span><span class="pinyin">Wā, <strong>kě'ài</strong> <em>sǐ le</em>! </span><span class="trans">OMG, adorbs!</span>
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* 他 难看 <em>死了</em>。
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*<strong>漂亮</strong> <em>死了</em> ！<span class="expl">Literally, "pretty to death"</span><span class="pinyin"><strong>Piàoliang</strong> <em>sǐ le</em>! </span><span class="trans">Drop-dead gorgeous!</span>
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* 你 胖 <em>死了</em>！
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*这 个 蛋糕 <strong>好吃</strong> <em>死了</em> 。<span class="expl pdf-short-expl">Literally, "delicious to death"</span><span class="pinyin">Zhège dàngāo <strong>hǎochī</strong> <em>sǐ le</em>! </span><span class="trans">This cake is to die for!</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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None of these sentences involves someone actually dying. As with "to death" in English, this structure simply intensifies the adjective. Notice how these are awkward to translate into English - 死了 is a lot more versatile than "to death".
 
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
  
 
* [[Degree complement]]
 
* [[Degree complement]]
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* [[Adjectival complement "de_hen"]]
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* [[Adjectival complement "de hen"]]
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* [[Positive adjectives with "-ji_le"]]
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* [[Positive adjectives with "-ji le"]]
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
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* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)]] (pp. 104) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192 →buy]
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)|104}}
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)|139}}
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{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|105}}
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{{Source|Yufa!|106}}
  
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[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
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[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK4}}
 
[[Category:Adjectives]]
 
[[Category:Adjectives]]
  
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{{Basic Grammar|死|B1|Adj + 死了|那 个 孩子 难 看 <em>死 了</em>。|grammar point|ASGLEVUV}}
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{{Basic Grammar|死|A2|Adj. + 死了|我 今天 累 <em>死了</em> 。|grammar point|ASGLEVUV}}
 
{{Rel char|了}}
 
{{Rel char|了}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing degree}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing degree}}
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{{Used for|Emphasizing}}
 
{{POS|Adjectives}}
 
{{POS|Adjectives}}
 
{{Similar|Adjectival Complement "de budeliao"}}
 
{{Similar|Adjectival Complement "de budeliao"}}
 
{{Similar|Adjectival Complement "de hen"}}
 
{{Similar|Adjectival Complement "de hen"}}
 
{{Similar|Positive adjectives with "-ji le"}}
 
{{Similar|Positive adjectives with "-ji le"}}
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{{Similar|Degree complement}}
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{{Similar|Advanced degree complements}}
 
{{Similar|Resultative Complement "huai"}}
 
{{Similar|Resultative Complement "huai"}}
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{{Translation|very}}
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{{Translation|really}}

Latest revision as of 08:59, 28 November 2020

In English, you might use the expression "you scared me to death!" In Chinese, 死了 (sǐ le) is used similarly to intensify an adjective with an unpleasant connotation.

Structure

The "Subject" part below is actually optional, you can still make your over-the-top exclamations without it.

Adj. + 死了

This structure is technically a kind of degree complement.

Examples

  • 我 饿 死了。Literally, "hungry to death"Wǒ è sǐ le! I'm starving!
  • 今天 累 死了。Literally, "tired to death"Jīntiān lèi sǐ le! Today was so exhausting!
  • 热 死了！Literally, "hot to death"Rè sǐ le! It's ridiculously hot!
  • 这 几 天 忙 死了。Literally, "busy to death" Zhè jǐ tiān máng sǐ le! It's been so terribly busy these days!
  • 这 件 衣服 丑 死了。Literally, "ugly to death"Zhè jiàn yīfu chǒu sǐ le! This clothing is totally hideous!
  • 你 的 房间 脏 死了。Literally, "dirty to death"Nǐ de fángjiān zāng sǐ le! Your room is absolutely filthy!
  • 吵 死了！Literally, "noisy to death"Chǎo sǐ le! It's so terribly noisy!
  • 这里 的 东西 贵 死了。Literally, "expensive to death"Zhèlǐ de dōngxi guì sǐ le! The things here are criminally expensive!
  • 我们 都 急 死了。Literally, "anxious to death"Wǒmen dōu jí sǐ le! We are all so terribly anxious!
  • 这个 孩子 烦 死了。Literally, "annoying to death"Zhège háizi fán sǐ le! This kid is so freaking annoying!

None of these sentences actually refers to someone dying. Instead the word 死了 (sǐ le) and the structure is simply used to intensify an adjective. Notice how these are awkward to translate into English; the translations above took a number of different angles to create the same impact as -死了 (sǐ le) does in Chinese. You might say that -死了 (sǐ le) is much more versatile in Chinese than the English expression "to death."

For Positive Connotations

Traditionally, -死了 (sǐ le) is only for adjectives with negative connotations, while positive connotations use a similar degree complement, 极了 (jí le). In recent years, however, it's become quite popular to also use -死了 (sǐ le) with positive adjectives:

  • 哇，可爱 死了 ！Literally, "cute to death"Wā, kě'ài sǐ le! OMG, adorbs!
  • 漂亮 死了 ！Literally, "pretty to death"Piàoliang sǐ le! Drop-dead gorgeous!
  • 这 个 蛋糕 好吃 死了 。Literally, "delicious to death"Zhège dàngāo hǎochī sǐ le! This cake is to die for!

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

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