Difference between revisions of "Superlative "zui""
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The most common way to form a superlative (best, worst, biggest, smallest, etc.) in Chinese is to use 最 (zuì) before an adjective (and a few select verbs). | The most common way to form a superlative (best, worst, biggest, smallest, etc.) in Chinese is to use 最 (zuì) before an adjective (and a few select verbs). | ||
| − | == 最 with Adjectives == | + | == 最 (zuì) with Adjectives == |
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 哪 个 老师 <em>最</em> 好？<span class="pinyin">Nǎ ge lǎoshī <em>zuì</em> hǎo? </span> <span class="trans">Which teacher is the best? </span> | + | *哪 个 老师 <em>最</em> 好？<span class="pinyin">Nǎ ge lǎoshī <em>zuì</em> hǎo? </span> <span class="trans">Which teacher is the best?</span> |
| − | * 你们 家 谁 <em>最</em> 漂亮？<span class="pinyin">Nīmen jiā shéi <em>zuì</em> piàoliang? </span> <span class="trans">In your family who is the most beautiful? </span> | + | *你们 家 谁 <em>最</em> 漂亮？<span class="pinyin">Nīmen jiā shéi <em>zuì</em> piàoliang? </span> <span class="trans">In your family who is the most beautiful? </span> |
| − | * Zuckerberg <em>最</em> 有钱。 <span class="pinyin">Zuckerberg <em>zuì</em> yǒuqián. </span> <span class="trans">Zuckerberg is the richest. </span> | + | *Zuckerberg <em>最</em> 有钱。 <span class="pinyin">Zuckerberg <em>zuì</em> yǒuqián. </span> <span class="trans">Zuckerberg is the richest.</span> |
| − | * 汉语 <em>最</em> 难。 <span class="pinyin">Hànyǔ <em>zuì</em> nán. </span> <span class="trans">The Chinese language is the most difficult. </span> | + | *汉语 <em>最</em> 难。 <span class="pinyin">Hànyǔ <em>zuì</em> nán. </span> <span class="trans">The Chinese language is the most difficult.</span> |
| − | * 这 种 事 <em>最</em> 麻烦。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè zhǒng shì <em>zuì</em> máfan. </span> <span class="trans">These kind of things are the most troublesome. </span> | + | *这 种 事 <em>最</em> 麻烦。<span class="pinyin">Zhè zhǒng shì <em>zuì</em> máfan. </span> <span class="trans">These kind of things are the most troublesome.</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | == Optional 了 == | + | == Optional 了 (le) == |
Occasionally you'll also see a 了 (le) added after the adjective. This simply adds emphasis to the "-est." | Occasionally you'll also see a 了 (le) added after the adjective. This simply adds emphasis to the "-est." | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * 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> | + | *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> |
| − | * 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> | + | *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 xuésheng <em>zuì</em> rènzhēn <strong>le</strong>. </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="pinyin">Tā de xuésheng <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> | + | *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> |
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | == 最 with Psychological Verbs == | + | == 最 (zuì) with Psychological Verbs == |
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. | 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. | ||
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| − | * 老板 <em>最</em> <strong>喜欢</strong> 你 | + | *老板 <em>最</em> <strong>喜欢</strong> 你 了！ <span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn <em>zuì</em> <strong>xǐhuan</strong> nǐ le!</span> <span class="trans">The boss likes you the best!</span> |
| − | * 你 <em>最</em> <strong>怕</strong> 什么？ <span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zuì</em> <strong>pà</strong> shénme? </span> <span class="trans">What do you most fear? </span> | + | *你 <em>最</em> <strong>怕</strong> 什么？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zuì</em> <strong>pà</strong> shénme?</span> <span class="trans">What do you most fear?</span> |
| − | * 我 <em>最</em> <strong>想 去</strong> 的 地方 是 | + | *我 <em>最</em> <strong>想 去</strong> 的 地方 是 西班牙。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>zuì</em> <strong>xiǎng qù</strong> de dìfang shì Xībānyá.</span> <span class="trans">The place I most want to go to is Spain.</span> |
| − | * 谁 <em>最</em> <strong>了解</strong> 你？ <span class="pinyin">Shéi <em>zuì</em> <strong>liǎojiě</strong> nǐ?</span> <span class="trans">Who knows you best?</span> | + | *谁 <em>最</em> <strong>了解</strong> 你？ <span class="pinyin">Shéi <em>zuì</em> <strong>liǎojiě</strong> nǐ?</span> <span class="trans">Who knows you best?</span> |
| − | * 她 <em>最</em> <strong>讨厌</strong> 抽烟 的 男人 了。 <span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zuì</em> <strong>tǎoyàn</strong> chōuyān de nánrén 了.</span> <span class="trans">She most hates men that smoke.</span> | + | *她 <em>最</em> <strong>讨厌</strong> 抽烟 的 男人 了。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zuì</em> <strong>tǎoyàn</strong> chōuyān de nánrén 了.</span> <span class="trans">She most hates men that smoke.</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
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| − | * 你 <em>最</em> <strong>喜欢</strong> 什么 | + | *你 <em>最</em> <strong>喜欢</strong> 什么 颜色？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zuì</em> <strong>xǐhuan</strong> shénme yánsè? </span> <span class="trans">What is your favorite color? </span> |
| − | * 你 <em>最</em> <strong>喜欢</strong> 什么 | + | *你 <em>最</em> <strong>喜欢</strong> 什么 动物？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zuì</em> <strong>xǐhuan</strong> shénme dòngwù?</span> <span class="trans">What is your favorite animal?</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 09:39, 6 January 2017
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Keywords
The most common way to form a superlative (best, worst, biggest, smallest, etc.) in Chinese is to use 最 (zuì) before an adjective (and a few select verbs).
Contents
最 (zuì) 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 最 好？ Which teacher is the best?
- 你们 家 谁 最 漂亮？ In your family who is the most beautiful?
- Zuckerberg 最 有钱。 Zuckerberg is the richest.
- 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.
Optional 了 (le)
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 最 可爱 了。This 了 is optional The puppy is the cutest.
- 四川 菜 最 辣 了。This 了 is optional Sichuan food is the spiciest.
- 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 (zuì) 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] + Obj. (+ 了)
Examples
- 老板 最 喜欢 你 了！ The boss likes you the best!
- 你 最 怕 什么？ What do you most fear?
- 我 最 想 去 的 地方 是 西班牙。 The place I most want to go to is Spain.
- 谁 最 了解 你？ Who knows you best?
- 她 最 讨厌 抽烟 的 男人 了。 She most hates men that smoke.
Although you could translate it as "like the best," pairing 最 (zuì) with the psychological verb 喜欢 (xǐhuan) is also a great way to talk about one's "favorite."
- 你 最 喜欢 什么 颜色？ What is your favorite color?
- 你 最 喜欢 什么 动物？ What is your favorite animal?
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
