Making judgments with "suan"

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."

1 Used with A Noun

1.1 Structure
1.2 Examples

2 Used with An Adjective

2.1 Affirmative Form

2.1.1 Structure
2.1.2 Examples

2.2 Negative Form

2.2.1 Structure
2.2.2 Examples

3 Colloquial Sayings
4 See also
5 Sources and further reading

5.1 Books

Used with A Noun

Structure

Examples

这算秘密吗？ Zhè suàn mìmì ma? Do you consider this as a secret?
她算不算你女朋友？ Tā suàn bu suàn nǐ nǚpéngyou? Can she be considered as your girlfriend or not?
美国的中国菜算中国菜吗？ Měiguó de Zhōngguó cài suàn Zhōngguó cài ma? Can American Chinese food be considered as Chinese food?
我们认识，但是不算朋友。 Wǒmen rènshi, dànshì bù suàn péngyou. We know each other, but we don't consider each other as friends.

Used with An Adjective

Affirmative Form

Structure

Examples

这家店的东西算便宜的。 Zhè jiā diàn de dōngxi suàn piányi de. The things in this shop are pretty cheap.
我女儿算听话的。 Wǒ nǚér suàn tīnghuà de. My daughter sorta does what she's told.
在我们公司，我算年轻的。 Zài wǒmen gōngsī, wǒ suàn niánqīng de. I'm pretty young in our company.
你老板算大方的，我老板更小气。 Nǐ lǎobǎn suàn dàfang de, wǒ lǎobǎn gèng xiǎoqì. Your boss is pretty generous. My boss is even more stingy.

Negative Form

Structure

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.

Colloquial Sayings

A few common examples:

算你狠！ Suàn nǐ hěn! Well aren't you!
你算老几？ Nǐ suàn lǎojǐ? Who do you think you are?
这不算什么。 Zhè bù suàn shénme. It's no big deal.

Making judgments with "suan"

Contents

Used with A Noun

Structure

Examples

Used with An Adjective

Affirmative Form

Structure

Examples

Negative Form

Structure

Examples

Colloquial Sayings

A few common examples:

See also

Sources and further reading

Books