Expressing "excessively" with "tai"

The simplest structure for expressing too in the sense of excessively in Chinese uses the word 太 (tài). But don't forget 了 (le) at the end of the sentence.

Structure

太 + Adjective + 了

As in English, this can express that something really is excessive, or can colloquially express the meaning of so or very. Note that in Chinese, you can say "太好了 (tài hǎo le)" which just means "very good" (whereas in English the phrase "too good" sometimes makes it sound like there's reason for suspicion).

Examples

• 他 太 重 了。He is too heavy. / He is very heavy.
• 我 太 胖 了。I am too fat. / I am very fat.
• 米饭 太 少 了。There is too little rice. / There is very little rice.
• 大象 太 大 了。The elephant is very big.
• 你 太 好 了。You are "too good" [so great].
• 他 太 高 了。He is too tall!
• 小猫 太 可爱 了！The kitten is too cute! / The kitten is very cute!
• 老师 太 累 了。The teacher is very tired.
• 这 个 女人 太 老 了。This woman is too old.
• 你 的 孩子 太 聪明 了。Your kids are too smart. / Your kids are very 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 (xǐhuān), 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"

Sources and Further Reading

• Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (p. 200) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 180-1) →buy
• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (p. 57) →buy