Difference between revisions of "Expressing "simply" with "jianzhi""

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简直(jiǎn zhí) is similar to simply or completely in English, and adds a tone of amazement on the part of the speaker. It can be used to modify adjectives, verbs and nouns. However, it can be a little tricky to use, as it is used differently with different words.
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简直(jiǎn zhí) is similar to "simply" or "completely" in English, and adds a tone of amazement on the part of the speaker.  
 
 
 
 
===Using 简直 to modify nouns===
 
 
 
When modifying nouns, it is necessary to add a measure word before the noun. This is the same as in English, where you might say, "he is simply ''an'' idiot"
 
  
 
For example:
 
For example:
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 我 崩溃, 他 <em>简直</em> 是 个 白痴!
 
 
* 你 的 房间 <em>简直</em> 像 一 个 战场,快点 收拾 收拾!
 
* 你 的 房间 <em>简直</em> 像 一 个 战场,快点 收拾 收拾!
 
* 他 的 孩子 <em>简直</em> 是 个 神童!
 
* 他 的 孩子 <em>简直</em> 是 个 神童!
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* 我 <em>简直</em> 不敢 相信!
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简直 is often used with 在 + verb, or the continuous. This is the same as "He's simply lying to you"
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<div class="liju">
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* 三星 的 智能 手机 <em>简直</em> 在 模仿 iphone。
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* 他 <em>简直</em> 在 骗 你。
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</div>
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* 他 汉语 说得 简直 和 中国人 一样
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
===Using 简直 to modify adjectives===
 
===Using 简直 to modify adjectives===
 
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Although it is possible in English to  say something is "simply beautiful",  in Chinese, 简直 cannot be followed directly by an unmodified adjective.
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For example
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
* 你 的 男 朋友 <em>简直</em>(是)太 帅 了,小心 别 的 女生 跟 你 抢!
 
* 你 的 男 朋友 <em>简直</em>(是)太 帅 了,小心 别 的 女生 跟 你 抢!
* 中国 的 高速 铁路 修建 得 <em>简直</em> 太 快 了,难怪 有 安全 问题!
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* 中国 的 高速 铁路 修建 得 <em>简直</em> 太 快 了!
 
</div>
 
</div>
 
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Adjectives can be modified with modifiers like 很, 太 and 极了.
Although it is possible in English to  say something is "simply beautiful", in Chinese, 简直 cannot be followed directly by an unmodified adjective.
 
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
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Here are some Chinese examples:
 
Here are some Chinese examples:
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 三星 的 智能 手机 <em>简直</em> 在 模仿 iphone.
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* 你<em>简直</em>在骗我!
 
* 我 <em>简直</em> 不敢 相信!
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  

Revision as of 04:47, 8 November 2011

简直(jiǎn zhí) is similar to "simply" or "completely" in English, and adds a tone of amazement on the part of the speaker.

For example:

  • 你 的 房间 简直 像 一 个 战场,快点 收拾 收拾!
  • 他 的 孩子 简直 是 个 神童!
  • 简直 不敢 相信!

简直 is often used with 在 + verb, or the continuous. This is the same as "He's simply lying to you"

  • 三星 的 智能 手机 简直 在 模仿 iphone。
  • 简直 在 骗 你。


  • 他 汉语 说得 简直 和 中国人 一样

Using 简直 to modify adjectives

Although it is possible in English to say something is "simply beautiful", in Chinese, 简直 cannot be followed directly by an unmodified adjective. For example

  • 你 的 男 朋友 简直(是)太 帅 了,小心 别 的 女生 跟 你 抢!
  • 中国 的 高速 铁路 修建 得 简直 太 快 了!

Adjectives can be modified with modifiers like 很, 太 and 极了.

  • 简直 漂亮
  • 简直很漂亮
  • 简直 太 漂亮 了
  • 简直 漂亮 极 了

Using 简直 to modify verbs

When modifying verbs, 简直 is often used with 在, to form the present continuous tense. An example of this in English would be: "He's simply lying to you".

Here are some Chinese examples:

Sources and further reading

Books

  • Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) pp.134-136
  • Boya Chinese Upper Intermediate 1 (博雅汉语中级冲刺篇) pp.115