Difference between revisions of "Making judgments with "suan""

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The word 算 (suàn) has a number of uses which can be translated in a number of ways. None of these is particularly hard to understand, but for the sake of clarity, we've brought them all together in one place. The common theme is that 算 indicates some kind of judgment, and may be thought of as "counts as" or "is considered to be."
 
The word 算 (suàn) has a number of uses which can be translated in a number of ways. None of these is particularly hard to understand, but for the sake of clarity, we've brought them all together in one place. The common theme is that 算 indicates some kind of judgment, and may be thought of as "counts as" or "is considered to be."
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== Used with Noun ==
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=== Structure ===
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<div class="jiegou">
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Subj. (+ 不) + 算 + Noun
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</div>
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=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
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*你 家 谁 <em>算</em> 老大 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ jiā shéi <em>suàn</em> lǎodà?</span><span class="trans">Who can be considered as the boss in your family?</span>
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*美国 的 中国 菜 <em>算</em> 真正 的 中国 菜 吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Měiguó de Zhōngguó cài <em>suàn</em> zhēnzhèng de Zhōngguó cài ma?</span><span class="trans">Can American Chinese food considered as real Chinese food?</span>
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*这 已经 <em>不 算</em> 秘密 了 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè yǐjīng <em>bù suàn</em> mìmì le.</span><span class="trans">It's no longer a secret.</span>
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*她 <em>算</em> 不 <em>算</em> 你 女朋友 ?<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>suàn</em> bu <em>suàn</em> nǐ nǚpéngyou?</span><span class="trans">Can she be considered as your girlfriend or not?</span>
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*我们 学校 有 很 多 帅哥 ,他 不 <em>算</em> 最 帅 的 男生 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen xuéxiào yǒu hěn duō shuàigē, tā bù <em>suàn</em> zuì shuài de nánshēng.</span><span class="trans">There are many handsome guys in our school. He can't be considered as the most handsome boy.</span>
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</div>
  
 
== Used with Adjectives ==
 
== Used with Adjectives ==

Revision as of 07:45, 21 November 2017

The word 算 (suàn) has a number of uses which can be translated in a number of ways. None of these is particularly hard to understand, but for the sake of clarity, we've brought them all together in one place. The common theme is that 算 indicates some kind of judgment, and may be thought of as "counts as" or "is considered to be."

Used with Noun

Structure

Subj. (+ 不) + 算 + Noun

Examples

  • 你 家 谁 老大 ?Nǐ jiā shéi suàn lǎodà?Who can be considered as the boss in your family?
  • 美国 的 中国 菜 真正 的 中国 菜 吗 ?Měiguó de Zhōngguó cài suàn zhēnzhèng de Zhōngguó cài ma?Can American Chinese food considered as real Chinese food?
  • 这 已经 不 算 秘密 了 。Zhè yǐjīng bù suàn mìmì le.It's no longer a secret.
  • 你 女朋友 ?suàn bu suàn nǐ nǚpéngyou?Can she be considered as your girlfriend or not?
  • 我们 学校 有 很 多 帅哥 ,他 不 最 帅 的 男生 。Wǒmen xuéxiào yǒu hěn duō shuàigē, tā bù suàn zuì shuài de nánshēng.There are many handsome guys in our school. He can't be considered as the most handsome boy.

Used with Adjectives

Affirmative Pattern

Besides these commonly used fixed expressions, the word 算 (suàn) or the phrase "还算" (hái suàn) can also be used together with an adjective. 说出来有比较意味。

Structure

Subj. + 算 (是) + Adj. + 的

Examples

  • 这 家 店 的 东西 便宜 的 。Zhè jiā diàn de dōngxi suàn piányi de.The things in this shop are fairly cheap.
  • 算 是 幸运 的 。suàn shì xìngyùn de.I'm lucky actually.
  • 我 女儿 听话 的 。Wǒ nǚér suàn tīnghuà de.My daughter fairly does what it's told.
  • 在 我们 公司 ,我 年轻 的 。Zài wǒmen gōngsī, wǒ suàn niánqīng de.I'm fairly young in our company.
  • 你 老板 大方 的 ,我 老板 更 小气 。Nǐ lǎobǎn suàn dàfang de, wǒ lǎobǎn gèng xiǎoqì.Your boss is fairly generous. My boss is even more stingy.

Negative Pattern

Structure

Subj. + 不 + 算 (+ Adv.) + Adj.

Examples

  • 今天 不 算 太 热 。Jīntiān bù suàn tài rè.It can't be considered too hot today.
  • 这 次 考试 不 算 难 。Zhè cì kǎoshì bù suàn nán.This examination can't considered difficult.
  • 三十 岁 结婚 不 算 晚 。Sānshí suì jiéhūn bù suàn wǎn.It can't be considered to be late to get married at 30.
  • 他 才 一 米 七五 ,不 算 高 。Tā cái yī mǐ qīwǔ, bù suàn gāo.He's only 1.75 meter. He can't be considered to be very tall.
  • 剪 个 头发 五十 块 ,不 算 贵 。Jiǎn gè tóufa wǔshí kuài, bù suàn guì.Fifty kuai for a haircut. It can't be considered expensive.

Colloquial Sayings with 算

Examples

  • 你 狠!Suàn nǐ hěn!Well aren't you!
  • 老几 ?suàn lǎojǐ?Who do you think you are?
  • 不 算 什么 。Zhè bù suàn shénme.It's no big deal.

Sources and further reading

Books