Expressing "excessively" with "tai"

In Chinese, the simplest structure for expressing too in the sense of excessively is by using the word 太 (tài). But don't forget 了 (le) at the end of the sentence.

Structure

太 + Adj. + 了

As in English, this can express that something really is excessive, or can colloquially express the meaning of so or very. Note that in Chinese, you can say "太好了 (tài hǎo le)" which just means "very good" (whereas in English the phrase "too good" sometimes makes it sound like there's reason for suspicion).

Examples

• 你 太 好 了 。 Nǐ tài hǎo le. You are "too good" [so great].
• 他 太 帅 了 。 Tā tài shuài le. He is too handsome. / He is very handsome.
• 这 个 女孩 太 漂亮 了 。 Zhè ge nǚhái tài piàoliang le. This girl is too pretty.
• 米饭 太 多 了 。 Mǐfàn tài duō le. There is too much rice.
• 这个 地方 太 有意思 了 。 Zhè ge dìfāng tài yǒuyìsi le. This place is too interesting.
• 现在 太 晚 了 。 Xiànzài tài wǎn le. Now it's too late.
• 老板太 忙 了 。 Lǎobǎn tài máng le. The boss is too busy.
• 小猫 太 可爱 了 ！ Xiǎomāo tài kě'ài le! The kitten is too cute! / The kitten is very cute!
• 老师 太 累 了 。 Lǎoshī tài lèi le. The teacher is too tired.
• 你 的 孩子 太 聪明 了 。 Nǐ de háizi tài cōngming le. Your kids are too smart. / Your kids are very smart.

Note for the more advanced learner: This pattern can be used with modal verbs (e.g. 会 (huì), 能 (néng)) as well as psychological verbs (e.g. 喜欢 (xǐhuān), 想 (xiǎng), 爱 (ài)) to intensify the degree.

See also

• "Not very" with "bu tai"
• Positive adjectives with "-ji le"
• The "zui" superlative
• Special verbs with "hen"

Sources and Further Reading

• Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (p. 200) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 180-1) →buy
• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (p. 57) →buy