Difference between revisions of "Expressing "simply" with "jianzhi""
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简直 (jiǎnzhí) 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. | 简直 (jiǎnzhí) 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. | ||
| − | == Used as " | + | == Used as "Simply" == |
===Structure=== | ===Structure=== | ||
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| − | == Used as " | + | == Used as "Basically" == |
When followed immediately by 是, the word 简直 takes on a meaning similar to "basically." | When followed immediately by 是, the word 简直 takes on a meaning similar to "basically." | ||
Latest revision as of 09:21, 18 January 2021
简直 (jiǎnzhí) 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.
Contents
Used as "Simply"
Structure
Subj. + 简直 + Predicate
Examples
- 这里 简直 是 天堂！This place is simply heaven.
- 他 唱歌 简直 难听 死了 ！His singing is simply awful!
- 你 男 朋友 简直 太 帅 了 ！Your boyfriend is simply gorgeous!
- 我 简直 不 明白 他 为什么 这么 傻 ！I just don't understand why he's so stupid.
- 我 简直 不 知道 怎么 教 这样 的 学生 ！I just don't know how I am supposed to teach such kinds of students.
- 妈妈 做 的 蛋糕 好吃 极了， 简直 比 商店 卖 的 蛋糕 还 好吃！The cake mom made is delicious, compared to the cake you can buy in stores it is still better.
- 我 听到 这个 消息， 简直 像 吃 了 一 块 非常 甜的 糖。I heard this news and it was like eating a super sweet piece of candy.
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. 很 is also not used after 简直. Check out the following examples:
- 她 简直 漂亮 ！
- 她 简直 很 漂亮 ！
- 她 简直 太 漂亮 了 ！She is simply too pretty!
- 她 简直 漂亮 极 了 !She is just so pretty!
Used as "Basically"
When followed immediately by 是, the word 简直 takes on a meaning similar to "basically."
Structure
Subj. + 简直 + 是 + Predicate
Examples
- 他 简直 是 骗 人 。He's just lying to you.
- 你 简直 是 多管闲事 。You are simply too nosy.
- 这 个 小狗 简直 是 可爱 极了，越 看 越 喜欢。This puppy is just too cute, the more you look at him the more you like him.
- 他们 简直 就 是 在 抄 我们 的 创意 。They are basically stealing our creativity.
- 你这样做，简直 是 在 破坏 气氛。What you are doing is basically destroying the atmosphere.
- 他 是 羽毛球 冠军，和 你 打 羽毛球 简直 是 太 简单 了 。He is a badminton champion, and playing badminton against you is simply too easy.
- 我 一 个 月 没 吃 肉 了，简直 是 在 挑战 我 自己。I didn't eat meat for a month just to challenge myself.
Sources and further reading
Books
- Boya Chinese Upper Intermediate 1 (博雅汉语中级冲刺篇) (pp. 115) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →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) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 225) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (pp. 67) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy
