Difference between revisions of "Expressing "excessively" with "tai""

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

Revision as of 03:36, 21 September 2015

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

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

Sources and Further Reading