Adjectives with "-ji le"

Just as 死了 (sǐle) can be used to intensify negative adjectives, 极了 (jíle) can be used to intensify both positive and negative adjectives. This is used in spoken, colloquial Chinese. 极 means "extreme" or "utmost."

Structure

This structure is technically a kind of degree complement, and one of the few that you can use after the adjective and without adding a 得. Remember to add the 了, since this is sort of an exclamatory statement similar to 太好了. It would be incorrect without it.

Subj. + Adj. + 极了

Examples

Some examples with a positive connotation:

  • 这个 主意 好 极了Zhège zhǔyi hǎo jíle.This idea is perfect.
  • 味道 好 极了 ! Wèidào hǎo jíle!The taste is perfect!
  • 他 的 英文 棒 极了Tā de Yīngwén bàng jíle.His English is perfect.
  • 婚礼 热闹 极了Hūnlǐ rènao jíle.The wedding was very lively.
  • 图书馆 一点 声音 都 没有 ,安静 极了Túshūguǎn yìdiǎn shēngyīn dōu méiyǒu, ānjìng jíle.There is no sound at all in the library. It's really quiet.

Some examples with a negative connotation:

  • 昨天 的 派对 无聊 极了 ! Zuótiān de pàiduì wúliáo jíle!Yesterday's party was so boring!
  • 他 那么 生气 ,我们 都 害怕 极了Tā nàme shēngqì, wǒmen dōu hàipà jíle.He was so angry. We were all very scared.
  • 高考 那 天 ,我 紧张 极了Gāokǎo nà tiān, wǒ jǐnzhāng jíle.I was really nervous the day I took the college entrance examination.
  • 这 件 事 让 我们 都 尴尬 极了Zhè jiàn shì ràng wǒmen dōu gāngà jíle.This incident made us all very embarrassed.
  • 那个 男孩 讨厌 极了 ! Nàge nánhái tǎoyàn jíle!That boy is really annoying!

See also

Sources and further reading

Books