Difference between revisions of "Superlative "zui""

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* <em>最</em> <strong>了</strong> 。 <span class="expl">(This 了 is optional)</span><span class="pinyin"><em>zuì</em> shòu <strong>le</strong>.</span> <span class="trans">You are the skinniest.</span>
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* 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> kěài <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">(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>
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* 四川菜 <em>最</em> 辣 <strong>了</strong>。<span class="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>
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* 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>
* 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 xuéshēng <em>zuì</em> rènzhēn <strong>le</strong>.</span> <span class="trans">His student is the most serious.</span>
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* 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 xuéshēng <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>
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* 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>
  
 
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Revision as of 01:18, 12 November 2015

The most common way to form a superlative (best, worst, biggest, smallest, etc.) in Chinese is to use 最 (zuì) before an adjective.

最 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 好?Nǎ ge lǎshī zuìhǎo? Which teacher is the best?
  • 你们 家 谁 漂亮?Nīmen jiā shéi zuì piàoliang? In your family who is the most beautiful?
  • Bill Gates 有钱。 Bill Gates zuì yǒuqián. Bill Gates is the richest.
  • 汉语 难。 Hànyǔ zuì nán. The Chinese language is the most difficult.
  • 这 种 事 麻烦。 Zhè zhǒng shì zuì máfan. These kind of things are the most troublesome.

Optional 了

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 可爱 (This 了 is optional)Xiǎogǒu zuì kěài le. The puppy is the cutest.
  • 四川菜 (This 了 is optional)SÌchuān cài zuìle. Sichuan food is the spiciest.
  • 我 的 中国 朋友 热情 (This 了 is optional)Wǒ de Zhōngguó péngyou zuì rèqíng le. My Chinese friend is the most enthusiastic.
  • 他 的 学生 认真 (This 了 is optional)Tā de xuéshēng zuì rènzhēn le. His student is the most serious.
  • 黄山 的 风景 (This 了 is optional)Huángshān de fēngjǐng zuì měi le. Huang Mountain's landscape is the most beautiful.

最 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] (+ 了)

Examples

  • 老板 喜欢 你 了 ! Lǎobǎn zuì xǐhuan nǐ le! The boss likes you the best!
  • 怕 蛇 。 zuì pà shé. I most fear snakes.
  • 想 去 的 地方 是 西班牙 。 zuì xiǎng qù de dìfang shì Xībānyá. The place I most want to go is Spain.
  • 了解 你? Shéi zuì liǎojiě nǐ? Who most knows you?
  • 讨厌 抽烟 的 男人 了。 zuì tǎo yàn chōuyān de nánrén 了. She most hates men that smoke.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books