Difference between revisions of "Expressing "excessively" with "tai""
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The simplest structure for expressing ''too'' or ''too much'' in Chinese is:
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{{Grammar Box}}
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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.
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== Structure ==
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
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太 + Adjective + 了
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太 + Adj. + 了
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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As in English, this can express that something really is excessive, or can colloquially express the meaning of ''so'' or ''very''. You can easily form sentences with this structure:
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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."
  
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<div class="jiegou">
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== Examples ==
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Subject + 太 + Adjective + 了
 
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</div>
 
  
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Some examples:
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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">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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{| class="wikitable"
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*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>
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|+太 ... 了 sentences
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*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>
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*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>
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! Subject !! <em>太</em> !! Adjective !! <em>了</em> !!
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*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>
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*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>
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| 盒子 || <em>太</em> || 重 || <em>了</em> || 。
 
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| 米饭 || <em>太</em> || 少 || <em>了</em> || 。
 
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| 雪 || <em>太</em> || 多 || <em>了</em> || 。
 
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| 你 || <em>太</em> || 好 || <em>了</em> || 。
 
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| 他 || <em>太</em> || 高 || <em>了</em> || 。
 
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| 小猫 || <em>太</em> || 可爱 || <em>了</em> || 。
 
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|}
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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By negating this structure, you can express the meaning of ''not so much'' or ''not very''. Just put 不 in front of 太:
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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.
  
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<div class="jiegou">
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<div class="liju">
  
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Subject + 不 + 太 + Adjective + 了
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* 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>
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* 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>
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* 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>
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* 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>
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* 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>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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Some examples:
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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.
  
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<div class="liju">
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== See also ==
  
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{| class="wikitable"
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* [["Not very" with "bu tai"]]
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|+Negative 太 ... 了 sentences
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* [[Positive adjectives with "-ji le"]]
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|-
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* [[The "zui" superlative]]
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! Subject !! <em>不</em> !! 太 !! Adjective !! 了 !!
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* [[Special verbs with "hen"]]
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|-
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* [[Expressing "quite" with "ting"]]
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| 我 || <em>不</em> || 太 || 高兴 || 了 || 。
 
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| 他 || <em>不</em> || 太 || 好看 || 了 || 。
 
  
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| 你 || <em>不</em> || 太 || 友好 || 了 || 。
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== Sources and Further Reading ==
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|}
 
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</div>
 
  
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==See also==
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 1|92}}
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*[[Positive adjectives with "-ji le"]]
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{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|200}}
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*[[The "zui" superlative]]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|180-1}}
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*[[Special verbs with "hen"]]
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{{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]]
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{{HSK|HSK1}}{{2021-HSK|HSK1}}
 
[[Category:Adverbs]]
 
[[Category:Adverbs]]
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{{Basic Grammar|太|A1|太 + Adj. + 了|<em>太</em> 好 <em>了</em> !|grammar point|ASG8HVFN}}
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{{Rel char|了}}
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{{Similar|"Not very" with "bu tai"}}
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{{Similar|Positive adjectives with "-ji le"}}
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{{Similar|The "zui" superlative}}
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{{Similar|Special verbs with "hen"}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "quite" with "ting"}}
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{{Structure|Basics}}
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{{Used for| Expressing quality}}
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{{Used for|Emphasizing}}
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{{Translation|too}}
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{{Translation|very}}

Latest revision as of 09:21, 20 April 2021

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 。Mǐfàn tài duō le.There is too much rice.
  • 现在 太 晚 了 。 Xiànzài tài wǎn le.Now it's too late.
  • 老板 太 忙 了 。 Lǎobǎn tài máng le.The boss is too busy.
  • 老师 太 累 了 。 Lǎoshī tài lèi le.The teacher is too tired.
  • 这个 厕所 太 脏 了 。 Zhège cèsuǒ tài zāng le.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 。 Nǐ tài hǎo le.You are so great.
  • 他 太 帅 了 。 Tā tài shuài le.He is very handsome.
  • 这 个 女孩 太 漂亮 了 。 Zhège nǚhái tài piàoliang le.This girl is so pretty.
  • 小猫 太 可爱 了 ！ Xiǎomāo tài kě'ài le!The kitten is so cute!
  • 你 的 孩子 太 聪明 了 。 Nǐ de háizi tài cōngming le.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

Sources and Further Reading

{{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|57) →buy

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