Expressing "simply" with "jianzhi"
Revision as of 09:11, 27 October 2017 by ChenShishuang (talk | contribs)
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"
Basic structure
Subj. + 简直 + Predicate
Examples
- 他 简直 是 个 魔鬼 ！He is simply a monster!
- 他 唱歌 简直 难听 死了 ！His singing is simply awful!
- 我 简直 想 不 明白 他 为什么 这么 傻 ！I just don't understand why he's so stupid.
- 我 简直 不 敢 相信 ！I simply can't bring myself to believe it.
- 我 简直 不 知道 怎么 教 这样 的 学生 ！I justd don't know how I should teach such kind of students.
Used as "truly"
Structure
Subj. + 简直 + Adj.
Examples
- 我 简直 太 笨 了！I'm simply too stupid!
- 你 男 朋友 简直 太 帅 了 ！Your boyfriend is simply so handsome!
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. Check out the following examples:
- 她 简直 漂亮 ！
- 她 简直 很 漂亮 ！
- 她 简直 太 漂亮 了 ！
- 她 简直 漂亮 极 了 !
Used as "basically"
Structure
Subj. + 简直 + Predicate
Examples
- 他 简直 是 在 骗 人 。He's just lying to you.
- 他们 简直 就是 在 抄 我们 的 创意 。They are basically stealing our creativity.
