Difference between revisions of "Expressing "simply" with "jianzhi""

 
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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.  
 
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" ==
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== Used as "Simply" ==
  
===Basic structure===
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===Structure===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
*我 今天 <em>简直</em> 太 顺利 了 !
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*这里  <em>简直</em> 天堂!<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ <em>jiǎnzhí</em> shì tiāntáng!</span><span class="trans">This place is simply heaven.</span>
*他 <em>简直</em> 是 个 魔鬼 !<span class="pinyin"><em>jiǎnzhí</em> shìgè móguǐ!</span><span class="trans">He is simply a monster!</span>
+
*他 唱歌 <em>简直</em> 难听 死了 !<span class="pinyin">Tā chànggē <em>jiǎnzhí</em> nántīng sǐ le!</span><span class="trans">His singing is simply awful!</span>
*他 唱歌 <em>简直</em> 难听 死了 !<span class="pinyin">Tā chànggē <em>jiǎnzhí</em> nántīng sǐle!</span><span class="trans">His singing is simply awful!</span>
+
*你 男 朋友 <em>简直</em> 太 帅 了 !<span class="pinyin">Nǐ nánpéngyou <em>jiǎnzhí</em> tài shuài le!</span><span class="trans">Your boyfriend is simply gorgeous!</span>
*你 男 朋友 <em>简直</em> 太 帅 了 !<span class="pinyin">Nǐ nán péngyou <em>jiǎnzhí</em> tài shuàile!</span><span class="trans">Your boyfriend is simply so handsome!</span>
+
*我 <em>简直</em> 不 明白 他 为什么 这么 傻 !<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>jiǎnzhí</em> bù míngbái tā wèishénme zhème shǎ!</span><span class="trans">I just don't understand why he's so stupid.</span>
*我 <em>简直</em> 不 明白 他 为什么 这么 傻 !<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>jiǎnzhí</em> bù míngbái tā wèishéme zhème shǎ!</span><span class="trans">I just don't understand why he's so stupid.</span>
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*我 <em>简直</em> 不 知道 怎么 教 这样 的 学生 !<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>jiǎnzhí</em> bù zhīdào zěnme jiào zhèyàng de xuéshēng!</span><span class="trans">I just don't know how I am supposed to teach such kinds of students.</span>
*你 变化 真 大,我 <em>简直</em> 认 不 出来 你 了 !
+
*妈妈 做 的 蛋糕 好吃 极了, <em>简直</em> 比 商店 卖 的 蛋糕 还 好吃!<span class="pinyin">Māma zuò de dàngāo hǎochī jíle, <em>jiǎnzhí</em> bǐ shāngdiàn mài de dàngāo hái hǎochī!</span><span class="trans">The cake mom made is delicious, compared to the cake you can buy in stores it is still better.</span>
*妈妈 找 不到 孩子 了,她 <em>简直</em> 要 疯 了。
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*我 听到 这个 消息, <em>简直</em> 像 吃 了 一 块 非常 甜的 糖。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ tīng dào zhège xiāoxī, <em>jiǎnzhí</em> xiàng chī le yīkuài fēicháng tián de táng.</span><span class="trans">I heard this news and it was like eating a super sweet piece of candy.</span>
*我 <em>简直</em> 不 知道 怎么 教 这样 的 学生 !<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>jiǎnzhí</em> bù zhīdào zěnme jiào zhèyàng de xuéshēng!</span><span class="trans">I just don't know how I should teach such kinds of students.</span>
 
*妈妈 做的 蛋糕 好吃 极了, <em>简直</em> 比 商店 卖的 蛋糕 还 好吃!
 
*我 听到 这个 消息, <em>简直</em> 像 吃 了 一 块 非常 甜的 糖。
 
 
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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:
+
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. 很 is also not used after 简直. Check out the following examples:
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
<li class="o">她  <em>简直</em> 太 漂亮 了 !<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>jiǎnzhí</em> tài piàoliangle!</span><span class="trans">She is simply too beautiful!</span></li>
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<li class="o">她  <em>简直</em> 太 漂亮 了 !<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>jiǎnzhí</em> tài piàoliangle!</span><span class="trans">She is simply too pretty!</span></li>
<li class="o">她  <em>简直</em> 漂亮 极 了 !<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>jiǎnzhí</em> piàoliang jíle!</span><span class="trans">She is just so beautiful!</span></li>
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<li class="o">她  <em>简直</em> 漂亮 极 了 !<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>jiǎnzhí</em> piàoliang jíle!</span><span class="trans">She is just so pretty!</span></li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Used as "basically" ==
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== 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 ===
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
Subj. + 简直 + 是(在) + Verb Phrase
 
</div>
 
 
 
=== Examples ===
 
  
<div class="liju">
+
When followed immediately by 是, the word 简直 takes on a meaning similar to "basically."
 
 
*他 <em>简直</em> 是 骗 人 。<span class="trans">He's just lying to you.</span>
 
*你 <em>简直</em> 是 多管闲事 。
 
*他们 <em>简直</em> 就是 在 抄 我们 的 创意 。<span class="trans">They are basically stealing our creativity.</span>
 
*我 一 个 月 没 吃 肉 了,<em>简直</em> 是在 挑战 我 自己。
 
*你这样做,<em>简直</em> 是在 破坏 气氛。
 
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 简直 + 是 + 形容词、名词短语
+
Subj. + 简直 + 是 + Predicate
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
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*他 <em>简直</em> <strong>是</strong> 骗 人 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>jiǎnzhí</em> <strong>shì</strong> piàn rén.</span><span class="trans">He's just lying to you.</span>
*这 个 小狗 <em>简直</em> 是 可爱 极了,越 看 越 喜欢。
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*你 <em>简直</em> <strong>是</strong> 多管闲事 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>jiǎnzhí</em> <strong>shì</strong> duō guǎn xiánshì.</span><span class="trans">You are simply too nosy.</span>
*他 是 羽毛球 冠军,和 你 打 羽毛球 <em>简直</em> 是 太 简单 了 。
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*这 个 小狗 <em>简直</em> <strong>是</strong> 可爱 极了,越 看 越 喜欢。<span class="pinyin">Zhège xiǎo gǒu <em>jiǎnzhí</em> <strong>shì</strong> kě'ài jí le, yuè kàn yuè xǐhuan.</span><span class="trans">This puppy is just too cute, the more you look at him the more you like him.</span>
*读 这 篇 文章, <em>简直</em> 是 美 的 享受。
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*他们 <em>简直</em> 就 <strong>是</strong> 在 抄 我们 的 创意 。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>jiǎnzhí</em> jiù <strong>shì</strong> zài chāo wǒmen de chuàngyì.</span><span class="trans">They are basically stealing our creativity.</span>
*这里 <em>简直</em> 是 天堂,我 太 喜欢 这个 地方 了。
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*你这样做,<em>简直</em> <strong>是</strong> 在 破坏 气氛。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhèyàng zuò, <em>jiǎnzhí</em> <strong>shì</strong> zài pòhuài qìfēn.</span><span class="trans">What you are doing is basically destroying the atmosphere.</span>
 
+
*他 是 羽毛球 冠军,和 你 打 羽毛球 <em>简直</em> <strong>是</strong> 太 简单 了 。<span class="pinyin">Tā shì yǔmáoqiú guànjūn, hé nǐ dǎ yǔmáoqiú <em>jiǎnzhí</em> <strong>shì</strong> tài jiǎndān le.</span><span class="trans">He is a badminton champion, and playing badminton against you is simply too easy.</span>
 +
*我 一 个 月 没 吃 肉 了,<em>简直</em> <strong>是</strong> 在 挑战 我 自己。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ yī gè yuè méi chī ròu le, <em>jiǎnzhí</em> <strong>shì</strong> zài tiǎozhàn wǒ zìjǐ.</span><span class="trans">I didn't eat meat for a month just to challenge myself.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
 
== See also ==
 
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==

Latest revision as of 09:21, 18 January 2021

Chinese-grammar-wiki-简直.jpg

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"

Structure

Subj. + 简直 + Predicate

Examples

  • 这里 简直 是 天堂!Zhèlǐ jiǎnzhí shì tiāntáng!This place is simply heaven.
  • 他 唱歌 简直 难听 死了 !Tā chànggē jiǎnzhí nántīng sǐ le!His singing is simply awful!
  • 你 男 朋友 简直 太 帅 了 !Nǐ nánpéngyou jiǎnzhí tài shuài le!Your boyfriend is simply gorgeous!
  • 简直 不 明白 他 为什么 这么 傻 !jiǎnzhí bù míngbái tā wèishénme zhème shǎ!I just don't understand why he's so stupid.
  • 简直 不 知道 怎么 教 这样 的 学生 !jiǎnzhí bù zhīdào zěnme jiào zhèyàng de xuéshēng!I just don't know how I am supposed to 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!Māma zuò de dàngāo hǎochī jíle, jiǎnzhí bǐ shāngdiàn mài de dàngāo hái hǎochī!The cake mom made is delicious, compared to the cake you can buy in stores it is still better.
  • 我 听到 这个 消息, 简直 像 吃 了 一 块 非常 甜的 糖。Wǒ tīng dào zhège xiāoxī, jiǎnzhí xiàng chī le yīkuài fēicháng tián de táng.I heard this news and it was like eating a super sweet piece of candy.

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. 很 is also not used after 简直. Check out the following examples:

  • 简直 漂亮 !
  • 简直 很 漂亮 !
  • 简直 太 漂亮 了 !jiǎnzhí tài piàoliangle!She is simply too pretty!
  • 简直 漂亮 极 了 !jiǎnzhí piàoliang jíle!She is just so pretty!

Used as "Basically"

When followed immediately by 是, the word 简直 takes on a meaning similar to "basically."

Structure

Subj. + 简直 + 是 + Predicate

Examples

  • 简直 骗 人 。jiǎnzhí shì piàn rén.He's just lying to you.
  • 简直 多管闲事 。jiǎnzhí shì duō guǎn xiánshì.You are simply too nosy.
  • 这 个 小狗 简直 可爱 极了,越 看 越 喜欢。Zhège xiǎo gǒu jiǎnzhí shì kě'ài jí le, yuè kàn yuè xǐhuan.This puppy is just too cute, the more you look at him the more you like him.
  • 他们 简直 在 抄 我们 的 创意 。Tāmen jiǎnzhí jiù shì zài chāo wǒmen de chuàngyì.They are basically stealing our creativity.
  • 你这样做,简直 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 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 在 挑战 我 自己。Wǒ yī gè yuè méi chī ròu le, jiǎnzhí shì zài tiǎozhàn wǒ zìjǐ.I didn't eat meat for a month just to challenge myself.

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK5