Expressing "simply" with "jianzhi"

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 "simply"

Basic structure

Subj. + 简直 + Predicate

Examples

• 这里 简直 是 天堂！
• 他 唱歌 简直 难听 死了 ！Tā chànggē jiǎnzhí nántīng sǐle!His singing is simply awful!
• 你 男 朋友 简直 太 帅 了 ！Nǐ nán péngyou jiǎnzhí tài shuàile!Your boyfriend is simply so handsome!
• 我 简直 不 明白 他 为什么 这么 傻 ！Wǒ jiǎnzhí bù míngbái tā wèishéme zhème shǎ!I just don't understand why he's so stupid.
• 我 简直 不 知道 怎么 教 这样 的 学生 ！Wǒ jiǎnzhí bù zhīdào zěnme jiào zhèyàng de xuéshēng!I just don't know how I should 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！
• 我 听到 这个 消息， 简直 像 吃 了 一 块 非常 甜的 糖。

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 ！Tā jiǎnzhí tài piàoliangle!She is simply too beautiful!
• 她 简直 漂亮 极 了 !Tā jiǎnzhí piàoliang jíle!She is just so beautiful!

Used as "basically"

When followed immediately by 是, the word 简直 takes on a meaning similar to "basically." Notice also that it's not an adjectival phrase that follows, but a verb phrase.

Structure

Subj. + 简直 + 是 + Predicate

Examples

• 他 简直 是 骗 人 。Tā jiǎnzhí shì piàn rén.He's just lying to you.
• 你 简直 是 多管闲事 。Nǐ jiǎnzhí shì duō guǎn xiánshì.You are simply too nosy.
• 这 个 小狗 简直 是 可爱 极了，越 看 越 喜欢。Zhè gè xiǎo gǒu jiǎnzhí shì kě'ài jí le, yuè kàn yuè xǐhuān.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 。Tāmen jiǎnzhí jiùshì zài chāo wǒmen de chuàngyì.They are basically stealing our creativity.
• 你这样做，简直 是 在 破坏 气氛。Nǐ zhèyàng zuò, jiǎnzhí shì zài pòhuài qìfēn.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 。Tā shì yǔmáoqiú guànjūn, hé nǐ dǎ yǔmáoqiú jiǎnzhí shì tài jiǎndān le.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。Wǒ yī gè yuè méi chī ròule, jiǎnzhí shì zài tiǎozhàn wǒ zìjǐ.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

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