Expressing "simply" with "jianzhi"

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"

Basic structure

Subj. + 简直 + Predicate

Examples

  • 简直 是 个 魔鬼 !jiǎnzhí shìgè móguǐ!He is simply a monster!
  • 他 唱歌 简直 难听 死了 !Tā chànggē jiǎnzhí nántīng sǐle!His singing is simply awful!
  • 你 男 朋友 简直 太 帅 了 !Nǐ nán péngyǒu jiǎnzhí tài shuàile!Your boyfriend is simply so handsome!
  • 简直 不 明白 他 为什么 这么 傻 !jiǎnzhí bù míngbái tā wèishéme 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 should teach such kinds of students.

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:

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

Used as "basically"

Structure

Subj. + 简直 + 是(在) + Predicate

Examples

  • 简直 是 骗 人 。He's just lying to you.
  • 他们 简直 就是 在 抄 我们 的 创意 。They are basically stealing our creativity.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK5