Turning adjectives into adverbs

You can easily convert most Chinese adjectives into adverbs with the particle (de). This usage is very similar to the suffix -ly in English.

Structure

In Chinese, we place the structural particle 地 (de) after the adjective to make it function as an adverb.

Subj. + Adj. + 地 + Verb

Examples

  • 你 要 努力 学习 。Nǐ yào nǔlì de xuéxí.You must study hard.
  • 雨天 地 滑 ,慢 慢 走 。Yǔtiān dì huá, màn màn de zǒu.The floor is very slippery on rainy days. Walk slowly.
  • 顺利 通过 考试 了。shùnlì de tōngguò kǎoshì le.He passed the exam successfully.
  • 认真 对 我 说 :“我 喜欢 你 。“rènzhēn de duì wǒ shuō: "wǒ xǐhuan nǐ."In all seriousness, he said to me: "I like you."
  • 热情 拥抱 了 我 。rèqíng de yōngbào le wǒ.He gave me a very warm embrace.
  • 激动 对 我 说 “谢谢 ” 。jīdòng de duì wǒ shuō "xièxie."She said "thank you" to me excitedly.
  • 老师 生气 看 着 我们 。Lǎoshī shēngqì de kàn zhe wǒmen.The teacher is looking at us angrily.
  • 孩子 们 开心 唱 了 起来 。Háizi men kāixīn de chàng le qǐlai.The children started to sing happily.
  • 大家 都 在 教室 里 安安静静 看书 。Dàjiā dōu zài jiàoshì lǐ ānān-jìngjìng de kàn shū.Everybody is reading quietly in the classroom.
  • 我 希望 你 快快乐乐 长大 。Wǒ xīwàng nǐ kuàikuài-lèlè de zhǎngdà.I hope that you grow up happily.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books