Difference between revisions of "Superlative "zui""
(Alert people to how to say "best, most, least, worst" (which confuses my beginning students), and give easier first example.) |
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The most common way to form a superlative (best, worst, fattest, most complex, etc.) in Chinese is to use 最 (zuì) before an adjective. | The most common way to form a superlative (best, worst, fattest, most complex, etc.) in Chinese is to use 最 (zuì) before an adjective. | ||
| − | == | + | == 最 with Adjectives == |
| + | |||
| + | === Structure === | ||
The structure is: | The structure is: | ||
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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"). | 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 == | + | === Examples === |
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
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== Optional 了 == | == Optional 了 == | ||
| − | Occasionally you'll also see a 了 added after the adjective. This adds emphasis to the "-est." | + | Occasionally you'll also see a 了 added after the adjective. This simply adds emphasis to the "-est." |
| + | |||
| + | === Structure === | ||
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
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</div> | </div> | ||
| − | == Examples == | + | === Examples === |
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
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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="trans">His student is the most serious.</span> | * 他 的 学生<em>最</em> 认真 <strong>了</strong>。<span class="expl">(This 了 is optional)</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="trans">Huang Mountain's landscape is the most beautiful.</span> | * 黄山 的 风景 <em>最</em> 美 <strong>了</strong>。<span class="expl">(This 了 is optional)</span><span class="trans">Huang Mountain's landscape is the most beautiful.</span> | ||
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| + | </div> | ||
| + | |||
| + | == 最 with Verbs == | ||
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| + | 最 (zuì) can also come before [[psychological verb]]s, 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: | ||
| + | |||
| + | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| + | |||
| + | 最 + [Psychological Verb] (+ 了) | ||
| + | |||
| + | </div> | ||
| + | |||
| + | 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 === | ||
| + | |||
| + | <div class="liju"> | ||
| + | |||
| + | * 我 <em>最</em> 喜欢 你 了 ！ <span class="trans">I like you the best!</span> | ||
| + | * 她 <em>最</em> 讨厌 抽烟 的 男人 。 <span class="trans">She most hates men that smoke.</span> | ||
| + | * 他 <em>最</em> 想 去 的 地方 是 日本 。 <span class="trans">The place I most want to go is Japan.</span> | ||
| + | * 你 <em>最</em> 怕 猫 。<span class="trans">I most fear cats.</span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 01:54, 5 June 2014
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Keywords
The most common way to form a superlative (best, worst, fattest, most complex, etc.) in Chinese is to use 最 (zuì) before an adjective.
Contents
最 with Adjectives
Structure
The structure is:
最 + Adjective
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
- 他 最 小 。He is the youngest.
- 他 最 笨。He is the dumbest.
- 你 最 胖。You are the fattest.
- 我 最 漂亮。I am the prettiest.
- 我 的 朋友 最 好。My friends are the best.
- 你 的 姐姐 最 聪明。Your sister is the cleverest.
- 汉语 最 难。The Chinese language is the most difficult.
- 这 种 事 最 麻烦。These kind of things are the most troublesome.
- 我 的 朋友 最 多 。I have the most friends.
- 我 的 钱 最 少 。I have the least amount of money.
- 我 的 男朋友 最 有钱 。My boyfriend has the most money.
- 这 种 啤酒 最 好喝 。This beer is the best tasting.
Optional 了
Occasionally you'll also see a 了 added after the adjective. This simply adds emphasis to the "-est."
Structure
最 + Adjective (+ 了)
Examples
- 他 最 聪明 了。(This 了 is optional)He is the smartest.
- 你 最 瘦 了。(This 了 is optional)You are the skinniest.
- 我 最 高 了。(This 了 is optional)I am the tallest.
- 他 的 女朋友 最 漂亮 了。(This 了 is optional)His girlfriend is the most beautiful.
- 你 的 老师 最 好 了。(This 了 is optional)Your teacher is the best.
- 我 的 妈妈 最 年轻 了。(This 了 is optional)My mother is the youngest.
- 你 的 中文 最 差 了。(This 了 is optional)Your Chinese is the worst.
- 我 的 中国 朋友 最 热情了。(This 了 is optional)My Chinese friend is the most enthusiastic.
- 他 的 学生最 认真 了。(This 了 is optional)His student is the most serious.
- 黄山 的 风景 最 美 了。(This 了 is optional)Huang Mountain's landscape is the most beautiful.
最 with 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)
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
- 我 最 喜欢 你 了 ！ I like you the best!
- 她 最 讨厌 抽烟 的 男人 。 She most hates men that smoke.
- 他 最 想 去 的 地方 是 日本 。 The place I most want to go is Japan.
- 你 最 怕 猫 。I most fear cats.
See also
- Expressing "excessively" with tai
- Positive adjectives with "-ji le"
- Expressing "rather" with "bijiao"
Sources and further reading
Books
- New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 15-6) →buy
- Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar (pp. 571-4) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (p. 344) →buy
