The most common way to form a superlative (best, worst, biggest,
smallest, etc.) in Chinese is to use 最 (zuì) before an
[adjective](adjective "wikilink") (and a few select
[verbs](verb "wikilink")).

最 (zuì) with Adjectives
------------------------

### Structure

The structure is:

<div class="jiegou">
最 + Adj.

</div>
And now you have the superlative form of the adjective. Unlike in
English, this structure is consistent for all adjectives in Chinese. The
inconsistencies in English sometimes confuse beginners, so note in the
examples below how to say "best," "worst," "least," and "most" (meaning
"greatest number").

### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   哪 个 老师 <em>最</em> 好？<span class="pinyin">Nǎge lǎoshī
    <em>zuì</em> hǎo? </span><span class="trans">Which teacher is the
    best?</span>
-   你们 家 谁 <em>最</em> 漂亮？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen jiā shéi
    <em>zuì</em> piàoliang? </span><span class="trans">In your family
    who is the most beautiful? </span>
-   Zuckerberg <em>最</em> 有钱。 <span class="pinyin">Zuckerberg
    <em>zuì</em> yǒuqián.</span><span class="trans">Zuckerberg is the
    richest.</span>
-   汉语 <em>最</em> 难。 <span class="pinyin">Hànyǔ <em>zuì</em>
    nán.</span><span class="trans">The Chinese language is the most
    difficult.</span>
-   这 种 事 <em>最</em> 麻烦。<span class="pinyin">Zhè zhǒng shì
    <em>zuì</em> máfan.</span><span class="trans">These kind of things
    are the most troublesome.</span>

</div>
Optional 了 (le)
----------------

Occasionally you'll also see a 了 (le) added after the adjective. This
simply adds emphasis to the "-est."

### Structure

<div class="jiegou">
最 + Adj. (+ 了)

</div>
### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   小狗 <em>最</em> 可爱
    <strong>了</strong>。<span class="expl pdf-simple-expl">This 了 is
    optional</span><span class="pinyin">Xiǎogǒu <em>zuì</em> kěài
    <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">The puppy is the
    cutest.</span>
-   四川 菜 <em>最</em> 辣
    <strong>了</strong>。<span class="expl pdf-simple-expl">This 了 is
    optional</span><span class="pinyin">Sìchuān cài <em>zuì</em> là
    <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Sichuan food is the
    spiciest.</span>
-   我 的 中国 朋友 <em>最</em> 热情
    <strong>了</strong>。<span class="expl pdf-simple-expl">This 了 is
    optional</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ de Zhōngguó péngyou
    <em>zuì</em> rèqíng
    <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">My Chinese friend is
    the most enthusiastic.</span>
-   他 的 学生 <em>最</em> 认真
    <strong>了</strong>。<span class="expl pdf-simple-expl">This 了 is
    optional</span><span class="pinyin">Tā de xuésheng <em>zuì</em>
    rènzhēn <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">His student
    is the most serious.</span>
-   黄山 的 风景 <em>最</em> 美 <strong>了</strong>。
    <span class="expl pdf-simple-expl">This 了 is
    optional</span><span class="pinyin">Huángshān de fēngjǐng
    <em>zuì</em> měi
    <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Huang Mountain's
    landscape is the most beautiful.</span>

</div>
最 (zuì) with Psychological Verbs
---------------------------------

最 (zuì) can also come before [psychological
verbs](psychological_verb "wikilink"), to express what one "most likes,"
"most hates," etc. It won't make sense if you try to use 最 (zuì) with
non-psychological verbs, though.

### Structure

The structure is:

<div class="jiegou">
最 + \[Psychological Verb\] + Obj. (+ 了)

</div>
Note the 了 (le) on the end there! It's not strictly required, but
you'll hear it a lot in spoken Chinese.

### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   老板 <em>最</em> <strong>喜欢</strong> 你 了！
    <span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn <em>zuì</em> <strong>xǐhuan</strong> nǐ
    le!</span><span class="trans">The boss likes you the best!</span>
-   你 <em>最</em> <strong>怕</strong> 什么？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ
    <em>zuì</em> <strong>pà</strong>
    shénme?</span><span class="trans">What do you most fear?</span>
-   我 <em>最</em> <strong>爱</strong> 中国 菜。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ
    <em>zuì</em> <strong>ài</strong> Zhōngguó
    cài.</span><span class="trans">I love Chinese food most.</span>
-   谁 <em>最</em> <strong>了解</strong> 你？ <span class="pinyin">Shéi
    <em>zuì</em> <strong>liǎojiě</strong>
    nǐ?</span><span class="trans">Who knows you best?</span>
-   她 <em>最</em> <strong>讨厌</strong> 抽烟 的 男人
    了。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>zuì</em> <strong>tǎoyàn</strong>
    chōuyān de nánrén 了.</span><span class="trans">She most hates men
    that smoke.</span>

</div>
Although you could translate it as "like the best," pairing 最 (zuì)
with the psychological verb 喜欢 (xǐhuan) is also a great way to talk
about one's "favorite."

<div class="liju">
-   你 <em>最</em> <strong>喜欢</strong> 什么
    颜色？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zuì</em> <strong>xǐhuan</strong>
    shénme yánsè? </span><span class="trans">What is your favorite
    color? </span>
-   你 <em>最</em> <strong>喜欢</strong> 什么
    动物？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>zuì</em> <strong>xǐhuan</strong>
    shénme dòngwù?</span><span class="trans">What is your favorite
    animal?</span>

</div>
See also
--------

-   [Expressing "excessively" with
    tai](Expressing_"excessively"_with_tai "wikilink")
-   [Positive adjectives with "-ji
    le"](Positive_adjectives_with_"-ji_le" "wikilink")
-   [Expressing "rather" with
    "bijiao"](Expressing_"rather"_with_"bijiao" "wikilink")

Sources and further reading
---------------------------

### Books

-   [New Practical Chinese Reader
    3 (新实用汉语课本3)](New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_3_(新实用汉语课本3) "wikilink") (pp.
    15-6)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X)
-   [Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference
    Grammar](Mandarin_Chinese:_A_Functional_Reference_Grammar "wikilink") (pp.
    571-4)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520066103?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0520066103)
-   [Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part
    1](Integrated_Chinese:_Level_2,_Part_1 "wikilink") (p. 344)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792)

[Category:A2 grammar points](Category:A2_grammar_points "wikilink")