Expressing "simply" with "jianzhi"

简直(jiǎn zhí) is similar to "simply" or "completely" in English, and can be used to modify adjectives or verbs, adding a tone of amazement on the part of the speaker.

Using 简直 to modify verbs

Basic structure

Subject + 简直 + Verb

Examples

• 你 简直 不 是 人。You simply aren't a person.
• 你 的 房间 简直 像 一 个 战场，快点 收拾 收拾!Your room looks like a complete war zone. Hurry up and clean it!
• 我 简直 不敢 相信！I simply can't bring myself to believe it.
• 我 简直 不 知道 该 怎么 说服 你。I just don't know how I should persuade you.

简直 is often used with "就是在 + verb" or "是在 + verb" structure. In English we might say: "He's simply lying to you".

• 三星 的 智能 手机 简直 就是 在 模仿 iPhone。The Samsung smartphones are just a copy of the iPhone.
• 他 简直 是 在 骗 你。He's just lying to you.

Complex structure

S + (Object) + Verb + 得 + 简直 + Adjective

Examples

• 他 普通话 说 得 简直 比 中国人 还 标准！
• 中国 的 高速 铁路 修建 得 简直 太 快 了!

Using 简直 to modify adjectives

Structure

S + 简直 + Adjective

Examples

• 你 的 男 朋友 简直（是）太 帅 了!
• 他 的 考试 成绩 简直 好极 了！

However, although it is possible in English to say something is "simply beautiful", in Chinese, 简直 cannot be followed directly by an unmodified adjective. Modifiers like 太, 很 and 极了 can be used, as in the following examples:

• 她 简直 漂亮！
• 她 很 漂亮！
• 她 简直 太 漂亮 了！
• 她 简直 漂亮 极 了!

Sources and further reading

Books

• Boya Chinese Upper Intermediate 1 (博雅汉语中级冲刺篇) (pp. 115) →buy
• Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) (pp. 134-6) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 225) →buy

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