Expressing "simply" with "jianzhi"

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.

When modifying nouns, it is necessary to add a measure word before the noun.

For example:

• 我 崩溃, 他 简直 是 个 白痴！
• 一 次 能 吃 15 个 汉堡，你 简直 太能吃了！

简直can also modify adjectives.

• 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，难怪 有 安全 问题！

Note that although we can say something is ‘simply beautiful’ in English, we cannot say

• 简直 漂亮

简直 can not be directly followed by an adjective. The adjective must be modified by 太, or 极了. So we can say, 简直太漂亮了，or 简直漂亮极了.

When modifying verbs, 简直 is 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:

• 三星 的 智能 手机 简直 在 模仿 iphone.
• 他 简直 连 家人 都 骗 ，太 可恶 了。