简直 (jiǎnzhí) is similar to "simply" or "completely" in English,
and can be used to modify adjectives or verbs, adding a tone of
amazement on the part of the speaker.
Using 简直 to modify verbs
Basic structure
Examples
- 你 简直 不 是 人。You simply aren't a
person.
- 你 的 房间 简直 像 一 个 战场，快点 收拾 收拾!Your
room looks like a complete war zone. Hurry up and clean
it!
- 我 简直 不敢 相信！I simply can't bring
myself to believe it.
- 我 简直 不 知道 该 怎么 说服 你。I just don't
know how I should persuade you.
简直 is often used with "就是在 + verb" or "是在 + verb" structure. In
English we might say: "He's simply lying to you."
- 三星 的 智能 手机 简直 就是 在 模仿 iPhone。The
Samsung smartphones are just a copy of the iPhone.
- 他 简直 是 在 骗 你。He's just lying to
you.
Complex structure
Subj. + (Obj.) + Verb + 得 + 简直 + Adj.
Examples
- 他 普通话 说 得 简直 比 中国人 还 标准！He simply
speaks Mandarin more correctly than Chinese people!
- 中国 的 高速 铁路 修建 得 简直 太 快 了!China's
elevated railroad was simply built really fast!
Using 简直 to modify
adjectives
Structure
Examples
- 你 的 男 朋友 简直（是）太 帅 了!Your boyfriend
is just so handsome!
- 他 的 考试 成绩 简直 好极 了！His test grades
are simply fantastic!
However, although it is possible in English to say something is
"simply beautiful," in Chinese, 简直 cannot be followed directly by
an unmodified adjective. Modifiers like 太, 很
and 极了 can be used, as in the following examples:
- 她 简直 漂亮！
- 她 很 漂亮！
- 她 简直 太 漂亮 了！
- 她 简直 漂亮 极 了!
See also
Sources and further
reading
Books
Category:
B2 grammar points