Difference between revisions of "Superlative "zui""
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| − | The most common way to form a superlative (best, worst, biggest, smallest, etc.) in Chinese is to use 最 (zuì) before an adjective (and a few select | + | The most common way to form a superlative (best, worst, biggest, smallest, etc.) in Chinese is to use 最 (zuì) before an [[adjective]] (and a few select [[verb]]s). |
| − | == 最 with Adjectives == | + | == 最 (zuì) with Adjectives == |
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 哪 个 老师 <em>最</em> 好？<span class="pinyin"> | + | *哪 个 老师 <em>最</em> 好？<span class="pinyin">Nǎge lǎoshī <em>zuì</em> hǎo? </span><span class="trans">Which teacher is the best?</span> |
| − | * 你们 家 谁 <em>最</em> 漂亮？<span class="pinyin"> | + | *你们 家 谁 <em>最</em> 漂亮？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen jiā shéi <em>zuì</em> piàoliang? </span><span class="trans">In your family who is the most beautiful? </span> |
| − | * | + | *谁 <em>最</em> 有钱 ？<span class="pinyin">Shéi <em>zuì</em> yǒuqián?</span><span class="trans">Who is the richest?</span> |
| − | * 汉语 <em>最</em> | + | *汉语 <em>最</em> 难 。<span class="pinyin">Hànyǔ <em>zuì</em> nán.</span><span class="trans">The Chinese language is the most difficult.</span> |
| − | * 这 种 事 <em>最</em> | + | *这 种 事 <em>最</em> 麻烦 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè zhǒng shì <em>zuì</em> máfan.</span><span class="trans">These kind of things are the most troublesome.</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | == Optional 了 == | + | == Optional 了 (le) == |
Occasionally you'll also see a 了 (le) added after the adjective. This simply adds emphasis to the "-est." | Occasionally you'll also see a 了 (le) added after the adjective. This simply adds emphasis to the "-est." | ||
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<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | |||
最 + Adj. (+ 了) | 最 + Adj. (+ 了) | ||
| − | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 小狗 <em>最</em> 可爱 <strong>了</strong>。<span class="expl">This 了 is optional</span><span class="pinyin">Xiǎogǒu <em>zuì</em> | + | *小狗 <em>最</em> 可爱 <strong>了</strong>。<span class="expl pdf-simple-expl">This 了 is optional</span><span class="pinyin">Xiǎogǒu <em>zuì</em> kě'ài <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">The puppy is the cutest.</span> |
| − | * | + | *四川 菜 <em>最</em> 辣 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="expl pdf-simple-expl">This 了 is optional</span><span class="pinyin">Sìchuān cài <em>zuì</em> là <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Sichuan food is the spiciest.</span> |
| − | * 我 的 中国 朋友 <em>最</em> 热情 <strong>了</strong>。<span class="expl">This 了 is optional</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ de Zhōngguó péngyou <em>zuì</em> rèqíng <strong>le</strong>. </span> <span class="trans">My Chinese friend is the most enthusiastic. </span> | + | *我 的 中国 朋友 <em>最</em> 热情 <strong>了</strong>。<span class="expl pdf-simple-expl">This 了 is optional</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ de Zhōngguó péngyou <em>zuì</em> rèqíng <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">My Chinese friend is the most enthusiastic.</span> |
| − | * 他 的 学生 <em>最</em> 认真 <strong>了</strong>。<span class="expl">This 了 is optional</span><span class="pinyin">Tā de xuésheng <em>zuì</em> rènzhēn <strong>le</strong>. </span> <span class="trans">His student is the most serious. </span> | + | *他 的 学生 <em>最</em> 认真 <strong>了</strong>。<span class="expl pdf-simple-expl">This 了 is optional</span><span class="pinyin">Tā de xuésheng <em>zuì</em> rènzhēn <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">His student is the most serious.</span> |
| − | * 黄山 的 风景 <em>最</em> 美 <strong>了</strong>。 <span class="expl">This 了 is optional</span><span class="pinyin">Huángshān de fēngjǐng <em>zuì</em> měi <strong>le</strong>. </span> <span class="trans">Huang Mountain's landscape is the most beautiful. </span> | + | *黄山 的 风景 <em>最</em> 美 <strong>了</strong>。 <span class="expl pdf-simple-expl">This 了 is optional</span><span class="pinyin">Huángshān de fēngjǐng <em>zuì</em> měi <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Huang Mountain's landscape is the most beautiful.</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | == 最 with Psychological Verbs == | + | == 最 (zuì) with Psychological Verbs == |
最 (zuì) can also come before [[psychological verb]]s, to express what one "most likes," "most hates," etc. It won't make sense if you try to use 最 (zuì) with non-psychological verbs, though. | 最 (zuì) can also come before [[psychological verb]]s, to express what one "most likes," "most hates," etc. It won't make sense if you try to use 最 (zuì) with non-psychological verbs, though. | ||
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</div> | </div> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Note the 了 (le) on the end there! It's not strictly required, but you'll hear it a lot in spoken Chinese. | ||
=== Examples === | === Examples === | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 老板 <em>最</em> 喜欢 你 | + | *老板 <em>最</em> <strong>喜欢</strong> 你 了！ <span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn <em>zuì</em> <strong>xǐhuan</strong> nǐ le!</span><span class="trans">The boss likes you the best!</span> |
| − | * 你 <em>最</em> 怕 什么？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zuì</em> pà shénme? </span> <span class="trans">What do you most fear? </span> | + | *你 <em>最</em> <strong>怕</strong> 什么？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zuì</em> <strong>pà</strong> shénme?</span><span class="trans">What do you most fear?</span> |
| − | * 我 <em>最</em> | + | *我 <em>最</em> <strong>爱</strong> 中国 菜。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>zuì</em> <strong>ài</strong> Zhōngguó cài.</span><span class="trans">I love Chinese food most.</span> |
| − | * 谁 <em>最</em> 了解 你？ <span class="pinyin">Shéi <em>zuì</em> | + | *谁 <em>最</em> <strong>了解</strong> 你？ <span class="pinyin">Shéi <em>zuì</em> <strong>liǎojiě</strong> nǐ?</span><span class="trans">Who knows you best?</span> |
| − | * 她 <em>最</em> 讨厌 抽烟 的 男人 了。 <span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zuì</em> | + | *她 <em>最</em> <strong>讨厌</strong> 抽烟 的 男人 了。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zuì</em> <strong>tǎoyàn</strong> chōuyān de nánrén le.</span><span class="trans">She most hates men that smoke.</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 你 <em>最</em> 喜欢 什么 | + | *你 <em>最</em> <strong>喜欢</strong> 什么 颜色？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zuì</em> <strong>xǐhuan</strong> shénme yánsè? </span><span class="trans">What is your favorite color? </span> |
| − | * 你 <em>最</em> 喜欢 什么 | + | *你 <em>最</em> <strong>喜欢</strong> 什么 动物？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zuì</em> <strong>xǐhuan</strong> shénme dòngwù?</span><span class="trans">What is your favorite animal?</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
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=== Books === | === Books === | ||
| − | + | {{Source|HSK Standard Course 2|4}} | |
| − | + | {{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3)|15-6}} | |
| − | + | {{Source|Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar|571-4}} | |
| + | {{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1|344}} | ||
[[Category:A2 grammar points]] | [[Category:A2 grammar points]] | ||
| − | {{Basic Grammar|最|A2|最 + Adj.| | + | {{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}} |
| + | {{Basic Grammar|最|A2|最 + Adj. (+ 了)|谁 <em>最</em> 有钱 ？|grammar point|ASG3544U}} | ||
{{Similar|Expressing "excessively" with tai}} | {{Similar|Expressing "excessively" with tai}} | ||
{{Similar|Positive adjectives with "-ji le"}} | {{Similar|Positive adjectives with "-ji le"}} | ||
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{{Similar|Moderating positive adjectives with "hai"}} | {{Similar|Moderating positive adjectives with "hai"}} | ||
{{Similar|"Even more" with "geng"}} | {{Similar|"Even more" with "geng"}} | ||
| + | {{Similar|Expressing "really" with "zhen"}} | ||
{{Used for|Comparing}} | {{Used for|Comparing}} | ||
{{Used for|Emphasizing}} | {{Used for|Emphasizing}} | ||
{{POS|Adverbs with Adjectives}} | {{POS|Adverbs with Adjectives}} | ||
{{Translation|most}} | {{Translation|most}} | ||
Latest revision as of 08:57, 21 April 2021
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Keywords
The most common way to form a superlative (best, worst, biggest, smallest, etc.) in Chinese is to use 最 (zuì) before an adjective (and a few select verbs).
Contents
最 (zuì) with Adjectives
Structure
The structure is:
最 + Adj.
And now you have the superlative form of the adjective. Unlike in English, this structure is consistent for all adjectives in Chinese. The inconsistencies in English sometimes confuse beginners, so note in the examples below how to say "best," "worst," "least," and "most" (meaning "greatest number").
Examples
- 哪 个 老师 最 好？Which teacher is the best?
- 你们 家 谁 最 漂亮？In your family who is the most beautiful?
- 谁 最 有钱 ？Who is the richest?
- 汉语 最 难 。The Chinese language is the most difficult.
- 这 种 事 最 麻烦 。These kind of things are the most troublesome.
Optional 了 (le)
Occasionally you'll also see a 了 (le) added after the adjective. This simply adds emphasis to the "-est."
Structure
最 + Adj. (+ 了)
Examples
- 小狗 最 可爱 了。This 了 is optionalThe puppy is the cutest.
- 四川 菜 最 辣 了 。This 了 is optionalSichuan food is the spiciest.
- 我 的 中国 朋友 最 热情 了。This 了 is optionalMy Chinese friend is the most enthusiastic.
- 他 的 学生 最 认真 了。This 了 is optionalHis student is the most serious.
- 黄山 的 风景 最 美 了。 This 了 is optionalHuang Mountain's landscape is the most beautiful.
最 (zuì) with Psychological Verbs
最 (zuì) can also come before psychological verbs, to express what one "most likes," "most hates," etc. It won't make sense if you try to use 最 (zuì) with non-psychological verbs, though.
Structure
The structure is:
最 + [Psychological Verb] + Obj. (+ 了)
Note the 了 (le) on the end there! It's not strictly required, but you'll hear it a lot in spoken Chinese.
Examples
- 老板 最 喜欢 你 了！ The boss likes you the best!
- 你 最 怕 什么？What do you most fear?
- 我 最 爱 中国 菜。I love Chinese food most.
- 谁 最 了解 你？ Who knows you best?
- 她 最 讨厌 抽烟 的 男人 了。She most hates men that smoke.
Although you could translate it as "like the best," pairing 最 (zuì) with the psychological verb 喜欢 (xǐhuan) is also a great way to talk about one's "favorite."
- 你 最 喜欢 什么 颜色？What is your favorite color?
- 你 最 喜欢 什么 动物？What is your favorite animal?
See also
- Expressing "excessively" with tai
- Positive adjectives with "-ji le"
- Expressing "rather" with "bijiao"
