Expressing "simply" with "jianzhi"
简直(jiǎn zhí) 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
Using 简直 to modify verbs
Basic structure
Subject + 简直 + Verb
Examples
- 你 简直 不 是 人。You simply aren't a person.
- 你 的 房间 简直 像 一 个 战场，快点 收拾 收拾!Your room looks like a complete war zone. Hurry up and clean it!
- 我 简直 不敢 相信！I simply can't bring myself to believe it.
- 我 简直 不 知道 该 怎么 说服 你。I just don't know how I should persuade you.
简直 is often used with "就是在 + verb" or "是在 + verb" structure. In English we might say: "He's simply lying to you".
- 三星 的 智能 手机 简直 就是 在 模仿 iPhone。The Samsung smartphones are just a copy of the iPhone.
- 他 简直 是 在 骗 你。He's just lying to you.
Complex structure
S + (Object) + Verb + 得 + 简直 + Adjective
Examples
- 他 普通话 说 得 简直 比 中国人 还 标准！He simply speaks Mandarin more correctly than Chinese people!
- 中国 的 高速 铁路 修建 得 简直 太 快 了!China's elevated railroad was simply built really fast!
Using 简直 to modify adjectives
Structure
S + 简直 + Adjective
Examples
- 你 的 男 朋友 简直（是）太 帅 了!
- 他 的 考试 成绩 简直 好极 了！
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. Modifiers like 太, 很 and 极了 can be used, as in the following examples:
- 她 简直 漂亮！
- 她 很 漂亮！
- 她 简直 太 漂亮 了！
- 她 简直 漂亮 极 了!
