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

 
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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
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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The word 算 (suàn) has a number of uses which can be translated in a number of ways. 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 A Noun ==
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== Used with a Noun ==
 +
 
 +
This essentially expresses that one "considers" something to be something else, as in, "I consider her a genius."
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*这 <em>算</em> 秘密 吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Zhè <em>suàn</em> mìmì ma?</span><span class="trans">Do you consider this as a secret?</span>
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*她 <em>算</em> 天才 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>suàn</em> tiāncái.</span><span class="trans">She is considered a genius.</span>
*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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*这 <em>算</em> 秘密 吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Zhè <em>suàn</em> mìmì ma?</span><span class="trans">Is this considered a secret?</span>
*美国 的 中国 菜 <em>算</em> 中国 菜 吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Měiguó de Zhōngguó cài <em>suàn</em> Zhōngguó cài ma?</span><span class="trans">Can American Chinese food be considered as Chinese food?</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 your girlfriend or not?</span>
*我们 认识 ,但是 不 <em>算</em> 朋友 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen rènshi, dànshì bù <em>suàn</em> péngyou.</span><span class="trans">We know each other, but we don't consider each other as friends.</span>
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*美国 的 中国 菜 <em>算</em> 中国 菜 吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Měiguó de Zhōngguó cài <em>suàn</em> Zhōngguó cài ma?</span><span class="trans">Can American Chinese food be considered Chinese food?</span>
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*我们 认识 ,但是 不 <em>算</em> 朋友 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen rènshi, dànshì bù <em>suàn</em> péngyou.</span><span class="trans">We know each other, but can't be considered friends.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Used with An Adjective ==
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== Used with an Adjective ==
  
 
=== Affirmative Form ===
 
=== Affirmative Form ===
  
算 can also be used with an adjective. It has an implication of comparing.
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算 can also be used with an adjective. It adds a sense of "comparatively speaking," as in, "in the grand scheme of things, this counts as...."
  
 
==== Structure ====
 
==== Structure ====
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 算 (是) + Adj. + 的
+
Subj. + 算 + Adj. + 的
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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*这 家 店 的 东西 <em>算</em> 便宜 <strong>的</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiā diàn de dōngxi <em>suàn</em> piányi <strong>de</strong>.</span><span class="trans">The things in this shop are pretty cheap.</span>
 
*这 家 店 的 东西 <em>算</em> 便宜 <strong>的</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiā diàn de dōngxi <em>suàn</em> piányi <strong>de</strong>.</span><span class="trans">The things in this shop are pretty cheap.</span>
*我 女儿 <em>算</em> 听话 <strong>的</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ nǚér <em>suàn</em> tīnghuà <strong>de</strong>.</span><span class="trans">My daughter sorta does what she's told.</span>
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*我 女儿 <em>算</em> 听话 <strong>的</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ nǚér <em>suàn</em> tīnghuà <strong>de</strong>.</span><span class="trans">My daughter pretty much does what she's told.</span>
*在 我们 公司 ,我 <em>算</em> 年轻 <strong>的</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Zài wǒmen gōngsī, wǒ <em>suàn</em> niánqīng <strong>de</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I'm pretty young in our company.</span>
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*在 我们 公司 ,我 <em>算</em> 年轻 <strong>的</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Zài wǒmen gōngsī, wǒ <em>suàn</em> niánqīng <strong>de</strong>.</span><span class="trans">I'm considered young in our company.</span>
*你 老板 <em>算</em> 大方 <strong>的</strong> ,我 老板 更 小气 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ lǎobǎn <em>suàn</em> dàfang <strong>de</strong>, wǒ lǎobǎn gèng xiǎoqì.</span><span class="trans">Your boss is pretty generous. My boss is even more stingy.</span>
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*你 老板 <em>算</em> 大方 <strong>的</strong> ,我 老板 更 小气 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ lǎobǎn <em>suàn</em> dàfang <strong>de</strong>, wǒ lǎobǎn gèng xiǎoqì.</span><span class="trans">Your boss could be said to be generous. My boss is even stingier.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
=== Negative Form ===
 
=== Negative Form ===
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 +
This is essentially a straight negation of the affirmative form, but because it's so commonly used, it's worth giving providing extra examples.
  
 
==== Structure ====
 
==== Structure ====
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 不 + 算 (+ Adv.) + Adj.
+
Subj. + 不 + 算 + Adj.
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*这 次 考试 <em>不 算</em> 难 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè cì kǎoshì <em>bù suàn</em> nán.</span><span class="trans">This examination can't considered difficult.</span>
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*这 次 考试 <em>不 算</em> 难 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè cì kǎoshì <em>bù suàn</em> nán.</span><span class="trans">This exam isn't that difficult.</span>
*三十 岁 结婚 <em>不 算</em> 晚 。<span class="pinyin">Sānshí suì jiéhūn <em>bù suàn</em> wǎn.</span><span class="trans">It can't be considered to be late to get married at 30.</span>
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*三十 岁 结婚 <em>不 算</em> 晚 。<span class="pinyin">Sānshí suì jiéhūn <em>bù suàn</em> wǎn.</span><span class="trans">Getting married when you're 30 can't be considered late. </span>
*他 才 一 米 七五 ,<em>不 算</em> 高 。<span class="pinyin">Tā cái yī mǐ qī wǔ, <em>bù suàn</em> gāo.</span><span class="trans">He's only 1.75 meter. He can't be considered to be very tall.</span>
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*他 才 一 米 七 五 ,<em>不 算</em> 高 。<span class="pinyin">Tā cái yī mǐ qī wǔ, <em>bù suàn</em> gāo.</span><span class="trans">He's only 1.75 meters tall. He can't be considered very tall.</span>
 
*剪 个 头发 五十 块 ,<em>不 算</em> 贵 。<span class="pinyin">Jiǎn gè tóufa wǔshí kuài, <em>bù suàn</em> guì.</span><span class="trans">Fifty kuai for a haircut. It can't be considered expensive.</span>
 
*剪 个 头发 五十 块 ,<em>不 算</em> 贵 。<span class="pinyin">Jiǎn gè tóufa wǔshí kuài, <em>bù suàn</em> guì.</span><span class="trans">Fifty kuai for a haircut. It can't be considered expensive.</span>
  
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</div>
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== Adding a Tone of Reluctance with 算是 ==
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For both the noun and adjective patterns above, the "judgment" indicated by 算 can be made more reluctant by following 算 immediately with a 是.
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 +
<div class="liju">
 +
<ul>
 +
<li class="o">他 <em>算</em> 天才 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>suàn</em> tiāncái.</span><span class="trans">He is considered a genius.</span></li>
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<li class="o">他  <em>算</em> <strong>是</strong> 天才 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>suàn</em> <strong>shì</strong> tiāncái.</span><span class="trans">You could say he's a genius (I guess).</span></li>
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</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*<em>算</em> 你 狠!<span class="pinyin"><em>Suàn</em> nǐ hěn!</span><span class="trans">Well aren't you!</span>
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*<em>算</em> 你 狠!<span class="pinyin"><em>Suàn</em> nǐ hěn!</span><span class="trans">Well aren't you tough!</span>
*你 <em>算</em> 老几 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>suàn</em> lǎojǐ?</span><span class="trans">Who do you think you are?</span>
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*你 <em>算</em> 老几 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>suàn</em> lǎojǐ?</span><span class="trans">So you think you're some kind of big shot?</span>
 
*这 <em>不 算</em> 什么 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè <em>bù suàn</em> shénme.</span><span class="trans">It's no big deal.</span>
 
*这 <em>不 算</em> 什么 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè <em>bù suàn</em> shénme.</span><span class="trans">It's no big deal.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
 
== See also ==
 
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
 
=== Books ===
 
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK5}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|算|B1|Subj. + 算 + Adj. + 的|在 我们 公司 ,我 <em>算</em> 年轻 的 。|grammar point|ASGWDWFN}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|算|B1|Subj. + 算 + Adj. + 的|在 我们 公司 ,我 <em>算</em> 年轻 的 。|grammar point|ASGWDWFN}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing "rather" with "bijiao"}}   
 
{{Similar|Expressing "rather" with "bijiao"}}   

Latest revision as of 07:27, 22 April 2019

The word 算 (suàn) has a number of uses which can be translated in a number of ways. 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 a Noun

This essentially expresses that one "considers" something to be something else, as in, "I consider her a genius."

Structure

Subj. (+ 不) + 算 + Noun

Examples

  • 天才 。suàn tiāncái.She is considered a genius.
  • 秘密 吗 ?Zhè suàn mìmì ma?Is this considered a secret?
  • 你 女朋友 ?suàn bu suàn nǐ nǚpéngyou?Can she be considered your girlfriend or not?
  • 美国 的 中国 菜 中国 菜 吗 ?Měiguó de Zhōngguó cài suàn Zhōngguó cài ma?Can American Chinese food be considered Chinese food?
  • 我们 认识 ,但是 不 朋友 。Wǒmen rènshi, dànshì bù suàn péngyou.We know each other, but can't be considered friends.

Used with an Adjective

Affirmative Form

算 can also be used with an adjective. It adds a sense of "comparatively speaking," as in, "in the grand scheme of things, this counts as...."

Structure

Subj. + 算 + Adj. + 的

Examples

  • 这 家 店 的 东西 便宜 Zhè jiā diàn de dōngxi suàn piányi de.The things in this shop are pretty cheap.
  • 我 女儿 听话 Wǒ nǚér suàn tīnghuà de.My daughter pretty much does what she's told.
  • 在 我们 公司 ,我 年轻 Zài wǒmen gōngsī, wǒ suàn niánqīng de.I'm considered young in our company.
  • 你 老板 大方 ,我 老板 更 小气 。Nǐ lǎobǎn suàn dàfang de, wǒ lǎobǎn gèng xiǎoqì.Your boss could be said to be generous. My boss is even stingier.

Negative Form

This is essentially a straight negation of the affirmative form, but because it's so commonly used, it's worth giving providing extra examples.

Structure

Subj. + 不 + 算 + Adj.

Note that you don't need add a 的 here.

Examples

  • 这 次 考试 不 算 难 。Zhè cì kǎoshì bù suàn nán.This exam isn't that difficult.
  • 三十 岁 结婚 不 算 晚 。Sānshí suì jiéhūn bù suàn wǎn.Getting married when you're 30 can't be considered late.
  • 他 才 一 米 七 五 ,不 算 高 。Tā cái yī mǐ qī wǔ, bù suàn gāo.He's only 1.75 meters tall. He can't be considered 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.

Adding a Tone of Reluctance with 算是

For both the noun and adjective patterns above, the "judgment" indicated by 算 can be made more reluctant by following 算 immediately with a 是.

  • 天才 。suàn tiāncái.He is considered a genius.
  • 天才 。suàn shì tiāncái.You could say he's a genius (I guess).

Colloquial Sayings

A few common examples:

  • 你 狠!Suàn nǐ hěn!Well aren't you tough!
  • 老几 ?suàn lǎojǐ?So you think you're some kind of big shot?
  • 不 算 什么 。Zhè bù suàn shénme.It's no big deal.