Making judgments with "suan"

The word 算 (suàn) has a number of uses which can be translated in a number of ways. None of these is particularly hard to understand, but for the sake of clarity, we've brought them all together in one place. The common theme is that 算 indicates some kind of judgment, and may be thought of as "counts as" or "is considered to be."

Used with A Noun

Structure

Subj. (+ 不) + 算 + Noun

Examples

• 你 家 谁 算 老大 ？Nǐ jiā shéi suàn lǎodà?Who can be considered as the boss in your family?
• 这 算是 秘密 吗 ？Zhè suàn shì mìmì ma?Do you consider this as a secret?
• 她 算 不 算 你 女朋友 ？Tā suàn bu suàn nǐ nǚpéngyou?Can she be considered as your girlfriend or not?
• 美国 的 中国 菜 算是 中国 菜 吗 ？Měiguó de Zhōngguó cài suàn shì Zhōngguó cài ma?Can American Chinese food be considered as Chinese food?
• 我们 认识 ，但是 不 算 朋友 。Wǒmen rènshi, dànshì bù suàn péngyou.We know each other, but we don't consider each other as friends.

Used with An Adjective

Affirmative Form

Besides these commonly used fixed expressions, the word 算 or the phrase 算是 can also be used together with an adjective. It has an implication of comparison.

Structure

Subj. + 算 (是) + Adj. + 的

Examples

• 这 家 店 的 东西 算 便宜 的 。Zhè jiā diàn de dōngxi suàn piányi de.The things in this shop are fairly cheap.
• 我 算 是 幸运 的 。Wǒ suàn shì xìngyùn de.I'm lucky actually.
• 我 女儿 算是 听话 的 。Wǒ nǚér suàn shì tīnghuà de.My daughter fairly does what it's told.
• 在 我们 公司 ，我 算 年轻 的 。Zài wǒmen gōngsī, wǒ suàn niánqīng de.I'm fairly young in our company.
• 你 老板 算 大方 的 ，我 老板 更 小气 。Nǐ lǎobǎn suàn dàfang de, wǒ lǎobǎn gèng xiǎoqì.Your boss is fairly generous. My boss is even more stingy.

Negative Form

Structure

Subj. + 不 + 算 (+ Adv.) + Adj.

Note that you don't need to add a 的 in a negative pattern.

Examples

• 今天 不 算 太 热 。Jīntiān bù suàn tài rè.It can't be considered too hot today.
• 这 次 考试 不 算 难 。Zhè cì kǎoshì bù suàn nán.This examination can't considered difficult.
• 三十 岁 结婚 不 算 晚 。Sānshí suì jiéhūn bù suàn wǎn.It can't be considered to be late to get married at 30.
• 他 才 一 米 七五 ，不 算 高 。Tā cái yī mǐ qī wǔ, bù suàn gāo.He's only 1.75 meter. He can't be considered to be very tall.
• 剪 个 头发 五十 块 ，不 算 贵 。Jiǎn gè tóufa wǔshí kuài, bù suàn guì.Fifty kuai for a haircut. It can't be considered expensive.

Colloquial Sayings

A few common examples:

• 算 你 狠！Suàn nǐ hěn!Well aren't you!
• 你 算 老几 ？Nǐ suàn lǎojǐ?Who do you think you are?
• 这 不 算 什么 。Zhè bù suàn shénme.It's no big deal.