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

  • 这里 简直 是 天堂!
  • 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 péngyou 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.
  • 妈妈 做的 蛋糕 好吃 极了, 简直 比 商店 卖的 蛋糕 还 好吃!
  • 我 听到 这个 消息, 简直 像 吃 了 一 块 非常 甜的 糖。


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"

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

Subj. + 简直 + 是 + Predicate

Examples

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


See also

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK5