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 + Adjective + 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

• 他 太 重 了 。 Tā tài zhòng le. He is too heavy. / He is very heavy.
• 我 太 胖 了 。 Wǒ tài pàng le. I am too fat. / I am very fat.
• 米饭 太 少 了 。 Mǐfàn tài shǎo le. There is too little rice. / There is very little rice.
• 大象 太 大 了 。 Dàxiàng tài dà le. The elephant is very big.
• 你 太 好 了 。 Nǐ tài hǎo le. You are "too good" [so great].
• 他 太 高 了 。 Tā tài gāo le. He is too tall!
• 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.
• 这 个 女人 太 老 了 。 Zhè ge nǚrén tài lǎo le. This woman is too old.
• 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