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

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简直 is often used with "就是在 + verb" or "是在 + verb" structure. In English we might say: "He's simply lying to you".
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简直 is often used with "就是在 + verb" or "是在 + verb" structure. In English we might say: "He's simply lying to you."
  
 
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Revision as of 04:14, 25 April 2017

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.

Using 简直 to modify verbs

Basic structure

Subj. + 简直 + Verb

Examples

  • 简直 不 是 人。You simply aren't a person.
  • 你 的 房间 简直 像 一 个 战场,快点 收拾 收拾!Your room looks like a complete war zone. Hurry up and clean it!
  • 简直 不敢 相信!I simply can't bring myself to believe it.
  • 简直 不 知道 该 怎么 说服 你。I just don't know how I should persuade you.

简直 is often used with "就是在 + verb" or "是在 + verb" structure. In English we might say: "He's simply lying to you."

  • 三星 的 智能 手机 简直 就是 在 模仿 iPhone。The Samsung smartphones are just a copy of the iPhone.
  • 简直 是 在 骗 你。He's just lying to you.

Complex structure

Subj. + (Obj.) + Verb + 得 + 简直 + Adj.

Examples

  • 他 普通话 说 得 简直 比 中国人 还 标准!He simply speaks Mandarin more correctly than Chinese people!
  • 中国 的 高速 铁路 修建 得 简直 太 快 了!China's elevated railroad was simply built really fast!

Using 简直 to modify adjectives

Structure

Subj. + 简直 + Adj.

Examples

  • 你 的 男 朋友 简直(是)太 帅 了!Your boyfriend is just so handsome!
  • 他 的 考试 成绩 简直 好极 了!His test grades are simply fantastic!

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. Modifiers like , and 极了 can be used, as in the following examples:

  • 简直 漂亮!
  • 很 漂亮!
  • 简直 太 漂亮 了!
  • 简直 漂亮 极 了!

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK5