Difference between revisions of "Moderating positive adjectives with "hai""

(add a comment on importance of intonation; giving an example where 还可以 means pretty good; explain 算 's meaning.)
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Whenever you want to imply that something is "good," but also kind of "meh," you can use 还 (hái) in front of the "good" adjective.
 
Whenever you want to imply that something is "good," but also kind of "meh," you can use 还 (hái) in front of the "good" adjective.
  
== Commonly used expressions ==
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== Commonly Used Expressions ==
  
=== Structure ===
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Besides expressing [[Continuation with "hai"|continuation]], 还 (hái) can also be used to weaken positive adjectives. Used with the adjective "good," this is similar to saying "fairly good" or "pretty good" in English. It's also sometimes used by a speaker to be more modest. Below are some of the most common adjectives that get "toned down" by 还 (hái) in this structure.
  
Besides expressing [[Continuation with "hai"|continuation]], 还 (hái) can also be used to weaken positive adjectives. This is similar to saying "fairly [good]" or "reasonably [good]" in English. Below are some of the most common adjectives that get "toned down" by 还 (hái) in this structure.
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== Structure ==
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
Subject + 还 好
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Subj. + 还 + / 可以 / 行 / 不错
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
<div class="jiegou">
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In this pattern, 好 (hǎo), 可以 (kěyǐ), (xíng), and 不错 (bùcuò) combined with ()hái can all be taken to mean "pretty good" or "all right" or "decent" (but also kind of ''meh''... not ''great''). As in English, intonation and facial expressions help convey the meaning. If expectations were already low to begin with, 还可以 (hái kěyǐ) can have the sense of "pretty darn good;" it all depends on context and tone of voice.
 
 
Subject + 还 可以
 
 
 
</div>
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
 
 
Subject + 还
 
 
 
</div>
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
 
 
Subject + 不错
 
 
 
</div>
 
 
 
These can all be taken to mean "pretty good" or "all right" or "decent" (but also kind of ''meh''... not ''great''). As in English, intonation and facial expressions help convey the meaning. If expectations were low, 还可以 can have the sense of "pretty darn good;" note the two contrasting examples below of the same sentence.
 
  
=== Examples ===
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== Examples ==
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 我 <em>还</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>hái</em> hǎo.</span> <span class="trans">I'm OK.</span>
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* 我 <em>还 </em>。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>hái hǎo</em>.</span><span class="trans">I'm OK.</span>
* 这 个 地方 <em>还</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè gè dìfang <em>hái</em> hǎo.</span> <span class="trans">This place is OK.</span>
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* 爸爸 做 的 菜  <em>还 可以</em>。<span class="pinyin">Bàba zuò de cài <em>hái kěyǐ</em>.</span><span class="trans">The food that dad cooks is OK.</span>
* 我 觉得 <em>还</em> 好 , 没有 那么 难吃 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ juéde <em>hái</em> hǎo, méiyǒu nàme nánchī.</span> <span class="trans">I think it's OK, it is not too bad-tasting.</span>
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* 我们 老板 <em>还 不错</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen lǎobǎn <em>hái bùcuò</em>.</span><span class="trans">Our boss is not too bad.</span>
* 啤酒 <em>还</em> 行 。 <span class="pinyin">Píjiǔ <em>hái</em> xíng.</span> <span class="trans">Beer is decent.</span>
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* 这 店 <em>还 </em>,不太 贵。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jià diàn <em>hái xíng</em>, bù tài guì.</span><span class="trans">This shop is OK. It's not too expensive.</span>
* 这 的 衣服 <em>还</em> 行 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè diàn de yīfu <em>hái</em> xíng.</span> <span class="trans">The clothes in this shop are alright.</span>
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* 我 男朋友 的 工资 <em>还 可以</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ nánpéngyou de gōngzī <em>hái kěyǐ</em>.</span><span class="trans">My boyfriend's salary is OK.</span>
* 颜色 <em>还</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Yánsè <em>hái</em> xíng.</span> <span class="trans">The color is OK.</span>
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* 新 的 办公室 <em>还 不错</em>。<span class="pinyin">Xīn de bàngōngshì <em>hái bùcuò</em>.</span><span class="trans">The new office is OK.</span>
* 那 个 学校 <em>还</em> 可以 。 <span class="pinyin">Nà gè xuéxiào <em>hái</em> kěyǐ.</span> <span class="trans">That school is so-so.</span>
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* 我 觉得 这里 的 菜 <em>还 可以</em>,没有 那么 难吃。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ juéde zhèlǐ de cài <em>hái kěyǐ</em>, méiyǒu nàme nánchī.</span><span class="trans">I think the food here is OK, it is not too bad-tasting.</span>
* 这里 的 菜 <em>还</em> 可以 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ de cài <em>hái</em> kěyǐ.</span> <span class="trans">The food here is so-so.</span>
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* 这 个 牌子  <em>还 不错</em>,很 多 年轻 人 喜欢。<span class="pinyin">Zhège páizi <em>hái bùcuò</em>,hěn duō niánqīng rén xǐhuan.</span><span class="trans">This brand is not too bad. Many young people like it.</span>
* 这里 的 菜 <em>还</em> 可以 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ de cài <em>hái</em> kěyǐ.</span> <span class="trans">(Said with the right expression) The food here is not bad at all. (i.e., we were not expecting much, but the food is really pretty good.) </span>
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* 房子 <em>还 可以</em>,但是 有 点 贵。<span class="pinyin">Fángzi <em>hái kěyǐ</em>, dànshì yǒudiǎn guì.</span><span class="trans">The apartment is not too bad, but it is a bit expensive.</span>
* 房子 <em>还</em> 不错 , 但是 有 点 贵 。 <span class="pinyin">Fángzi <em>hái</em> bùcuò, dànshì yǒu diǎn guì.</span> <span class="trans">The apartment is not too bad, but it is a bit expensive.</span>
 
* 我们 老板 <em>还</em> 不错 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen lǎobǎn <em>hái</em> bùcuò.</span> <span class="trans">Our boss is not too bad.</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== “还算” Used with an Adjective ==
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== See also ==
 
 
Besides these commonly used fixed expressions, the phrase "还算" (hái suàn) can also be used together with an adjective. (算 suàn's basic meaning is to "calculate," but here it means "to consider to be.") This structure can be used to weaken a positive adjective in the same way the just 还 (hái) does above, but adding "算" (suàn) between “还” (hái) and the adjective adds a syllable and makes the expression sound more balanced and authentic.
 
 
 
=== Structure ===
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
 
 
Subject + 还 算 + Adj.
 
 
 
</div>
 
 
 
 
 
=== Examples ===
 
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
 
 
* 房间 <em>还 算</em> 大。<span class="pinyin">Fángjiān <em>hái suàn </em> dà.</span><span class="trans">The room is fairly big.</span>
 
* 这 个 女 孩子<em>还 算</em> 漂亮。<span class="pinyin">Zhè gè nǚ háizi <em>hái suàn </em> piàoliang.</span><span class="trans">This girl is fairly beautiful.</span>
 
* 我们 公司 <em>还 算</em> 好。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen gōngsī <em>hái suàn </em> hǎo.</span><span class="trans">Our office is fairly good.</span>
 
* 工作 <em>还 算</em> 顺利。<span class="pinyin">Gōngzuò <em>hái suàn </em> shùnlì.</span><span class="trans">The work is fairly smooth.</span>
 
* 这 里 <em>还 算</em> 安静。<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ <em>hái suàn </em> ānjìng.</span><span class="trans">This place is fairly quiet.</span>
 
* 这 个 城市 的 <em>还 算</em> 干净。<span class="pinyin">Zhè gè chéngshì de <em>hái suàn </em> gānjìng.</span><span class="trans">This city is fairly clean.</span>
 
* 我 家 的 宝宝 <em>还 算</em> 听话。<span class="pinyin">Wǒjiā de bǎobǎo <em>hái suàn </em> tīnghuà.</span><span class="trans">My baby fairly does what it's told.</span>
 
* 这 家 店 的 东西 <em>还 算</em> 便宜。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiā diàn de dōngxī <em>hái suàn </em> piányí.</span><span class="trans">The things in this shop are fairly cheap.</span>
 
* 这 个 人 <em>还 算</em> 诚实。<span class="pinyin">Zhè gè rén <em>hái suàn </em> chéngshí.</span><span class="trans">This person is fairly honest.</span>
 
* 你 <em>还 算</em> 聪明。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>hái suàn </em> cōngmíng.</span><span class="trans">You are fairly clever.</span>
 
 
 
</div>
 
 
 
==See also==
 
  
 
*[[Continuation with "hai"]]
 
*[[Continuation with "hai"]]
 
*[[Expressing "rather" with "bijiao"]]
 
*[[Expressing "rather" with "bijiao"]]
* [[The "zui" superlative]]
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*[[The "zui" superlative]]
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
  
 
=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 302) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
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* [[Exemplification of Common Sentence Patterns in Spoken Chinese 汉语口语常用句式例解]] (pp. 106-7) [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Exemplification-Common-Sentence-Patterns-Chinese/dp/7301075405 →buy]
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 2|36}}
* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 366) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)|302}}
 +
{{Source|Exemplification of Common Sentence Patterns in Spoken Chinese 汉语口语常用句式例解|106-7}}
 +
{{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|366}}
  
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|还|A2|还|<em>还</em> 可以。<em>还</em> 好。|grammar point|ASGAY164}}
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{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
 +
{{Basic Grammar|还|A2|还 + Adj.|<em>还</em> 可以。<em>还</em> 好。|grammar point|ASGAY164}}
 
{{Similar|Continuation with "hai"}}   
 
{{Similar|Continuation with "hai"}}   
 
{{Similar|Expressing "rather" with "bijiao"}}   
 
{{Similar|Expressing "rather" with "bijiao"}}   

Latest revision as of 08:57, 21 April 2021

Whenever you want to imply that something is "good," but also kind of "meh," you can use 还 (hái) in front of the "good" adjective.

Commonly Used Expressions

Besides expressing continuation, 还 (hái) can also be used to weaken positive adjectives. Used with the adjective "good," this is similar to saying "fairly good" or "pretty good" in English. It's also sometimes used by a speaker to be more modest. Below are some of the most common adjectives that get "toned down" by 还 (hái) in this structure.

Structure

Subj. + 还 + 好 / 可以 / 行 / 不错

In this pattern, 好 (hǎo), 可以 (kěyǐ), 行 (xíng), and 不错 (bùcuò) combined with 还 ()hái can all be taken to mean "pretty good" or "all right" or "decent" (but also kind of meh... not great). As in English, intonation and facial expressions help convey the meaning. If expectations were already low to begin with, 还可以 (hái kěyǐ) can have the sense of "pretty darn good;" it all depends on context and tone of voice.

Examples

  • 还 好hái hǎo.I'm OK.
  • 爸爸 做 的 菜 还 可以Bàba zuò de cài hái kěyǐ.The food that dad cooks is OK.
  • 我们 老板 还 不错Wǒmen lǎobǎn hái bùcuò.Our boss is not too bad.
  • 这 家 店 还 行,不太 贵。Zhè jià diàn hái xíng, bù tài guì.This shop is OK. It's not too expensive.
  • 我 男朋友 的 工资 还 可以Wǒ nánpéngyou de gōngzī hái kěyǐ.My boyfriend's salary is OK.
  • 新 的 办公室 还 不错Xīn de bàngōngshì hái bùcuò.The new office is OK.
  • 我 觉得 这里 的 菜 还 可以,没有 那么 难吃。Wǒ juéde zhèlǐ de cài hái kěyǐ, méiyǒu nàme nánchī.I think the food here is OK, it is not too bad-tasting.
  • 这 个 牌子 还 不错,很 多 年轻 人 喜欢。Zhège páizi hái bùcuò,hěn duō niánqīng rén xǐhuan.This brand is not too bad. Many young people like it.
  • 房子 还 可以,但是 有 点 贵。Fángzi hái kěyǐ, dànshì yǒudiǎn guì.The apartment is not too bad, but it is a bit expensive.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books