Difference between revisions of "Negative adjectives with "-si le""
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* 这里 的 东西 <strong>贵</strong> <em>死了</em>。<span class="expl">Literally, "expensive to death"</span><span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ de dōngxī <strong>guì </strong><em>sǐ le</em>! </span><span class="trans">The things here are criminally expensive! </span> | * 这里 的 东西 <strong>贵</strong> <em>死了</em>。<span class="expl">Literally, "expensive to death"</span><span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ de dōngxī <strong>guì </strong><em>sǐ le</em>! </span><span class="trans">The things here are criminally expensive! </span> | ||
*我们 都 <strong>急</strong> <em>死了</em>。<span class="expl">Literally, "anxious to death"</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dōu <Strong>jí</strong> <em>sǐ le</em>! </span> <span class="trans">We are all so terribly anxious! </span> | *我们 都 <strong>急</strong> <em>死了</em>。<span class="expl">Literally, "anxious to death"</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen dōu <Strong>jí</strong> <em>sǐ le</em>! </span> <span class="trans">We are all so terribly anxious! </span> | ||
| − | * 这 个 | + | * 这 个 孩子 <strong>烦</strong> <em>死了</em>。<span class="expl">Literally, "annoying to death"</span><span class="pinyin">Zhè ge háizi <Strong>fán</strong> <em>sǐ le</em>! </span><span class="trans">This kid is so freaking annoying! </span> |
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Revision as of 06:42, 13 January 2017
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Keywords
In English, you might use the expression "you scared me to death!" In Chinese, 死了 (sǐ le) is used similarly to intensify an adjective with an unpleasant connotation.
Contents
Structure
The "Subject" part below is actually optional, you can still make your over-the-top exclamations without it.
Subj. + Negative Adj. + 死了
This structure is technically a kind of degree complement.
Examples
- 我 饿 死了。Literally, "hungry to death"I'm starving!
- 今天 累 死了。Literally, "tired to death"Today was so exhausting!
- 热 死了！Literally, "hot to death"It's ridiculously hot!
- 这 几 天 忙 死了。Literally, "busy to death" It's been so terribly busy these days!
- 这 件 衣服 丑 死了。Literally, "ugly to death"This piece of clothing is totally hideous!
- 你 的 房间 脏 死了。Literally, "dirty to death"Your room is absolutely filthy!
- 吵 死了！Literally, "noisy to death"It's so terribly noisy!
- 这里 的 东西 贵 死了。Literally, "expensive to death"The things here are criminally expensive!
- 我们 都 急 死了。Literally, "anxious to death" We are all so terribly anxious!
- 这 个 孩子 烦 死了。Literally, "annoying to death"This kid is so freaking annoying!
None of these sentences actually refer to someone dying, instead the word 死了 (sǐ le) and the structure is simply used to intensify an adjective. Notice how these are awkward to translate into English; the translations above took a number of different angles to create the same impact as -死了 (sǐ le) does in Chinese. You might say that -死了 (sǐ le) is much more versatile in Chinese than the English expression "to death."
For Positive Connotations
Traditionally, -死了 (sǐ le) is only for adjectives with negative connotations, while positive connotations use a similar degree complement, 极了 (jí le). In recent years, however, it's become quite popular to also use -死了 (sǐ le) with positive adjectives:
- 哇，可爱 死了 ！ Literally, "cute to death"OMG, adorbs!
- 漂亮 死了 ！ Literally, "pretty to death"Drop-dead gorgeous!
- 这 个 蛋糕 好吃 死了。Literally, "delicious to death"This cake is to die for!
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (p. 104) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (p. 139) →buy
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (p. 105) →buy
- Yufa! (p. 106) →buy
