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  7.   <title>Superlative "zui"</title>
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  12.   <h1>Superlative "<span class="pinyinst">zuì</span>" "<span class="hanzist">最</span>"</h1>
    13. 

  13. 

  14.   <p>The most common way to form a superlative (best, worst, biggest, smallest, etc.) in Chinese is to use <span class="hanzi">最</span> (<span class="pinyin">zuì</span>) before an adjective (and a few select verbs).</p>
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  15. 

  16.   <h2 id="最-zuì-with-adjectives"><span class="hanzist">最</span> (<span class="pinyinst">zuì</span>) with Adjectives</h2>
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  17. 

  18.   <h3 id="structure">Structure</h3>
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  19. 

  20.   <p>The structure is:</p>
    21. 

  21. 

  22.   <div class="deux">
    23. 

  23.     <p><span class="hanzist">最</span> + Adj.</p>
    24. 

  24.   </div>
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  25. 

  26.   <p>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 "<b>best</b>," "<b>worst</b>," "<b>least</b>," and "<b>most</b>" (meaning "<b>greatest number</b>").</p>
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  27. 

  28.   <h3 id="examples">Examples</h3>
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  29. 

  30.   <div class="exemple">
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  31.     <ul>
    32. 

  32.       <li><span class="hanzi">哪 个 老师 <span class="fondjaune">最</span> 好？</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Nǎge lǎoshī <span class="fondjaune">zuì</span> hǎo?</span><br/> Which teacher is the best?</li>
    33. 

  33. 

  34.       <li><span class="hanzi">你们 家 谁 <span class="fondjaune">最</span> 漂亮？</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Nǐmen jiā shéi <span class="fondjaune">zuì</span> piàoliang?</span> <br/>In your family who is the most beautiful?</li>
    35. 

  35. 

  36.       <li>Zuckerberg <span class="hanzi"><span class="fondjaune">最</span> 有钱。</span> <br/><span class="pinyin">Zuckerberg <span class="fondjaune">zuì</span> yǒuqián.</span><br/>Zuckerberg is the richest.</li>
    37. 

  37. 

  38.       <li><span class="hanzi">汉语 <span class="fondjaune">最</span> 难。</span><br/> <span class="pinyin">Hànyǔ <span class="fondjaune">zuì</span> nán.</span> <br/>The Chinese language is the most difficult.</li>
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  39. 

  40.       <li><span class="hanzi">这 种 事 <span class="fondjaune">最</span> 麻烦。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Zhè zhǒng shì <span class="fondjaune">zuì</span> máfan.</span><br/> These kind of things are the most troublesome.</li>
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  41.     </ul>
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  42.   </div>
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  43. 

  44.   <h2 id="optional-了-le">Optional <span class="hanzist">了</span> (<span class="pinyinst">le</span>)</h2>
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  45. 

  46.   <p>Occasionally you'll also see a <span class="hanzi">了</span> (<span class="pinyin">le</span>) added after the adjective. This simply adds emphasis to the "<b>-est.</b>"</p>
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  47. 

  48.   <h3 id="structure-1">Structure</h3>
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  49. 

  50.   <div class="deux">
    51. 

  51.     <p><span class="hanzist">最</span> + Adj. (+ <span class="hanzist">了</span>)</p>
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  52.   </div>
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  53. 

  54.   <h3 id="examples-1">Examples</h3>
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  55. 

  56.   <div class="exemple">
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  57.     <ul>
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  58.       <li><span class="hanzi">小狗 <span class="fondjaune">最</span> 可爱 <span class="fondvert">了</span>。</span><br/><span class="vert">This 了 is optional </span><br/><span class="pinyin">Xiǎogǒu <span class="fondjaune">zuì</span> kěài <span class="fondvert">le</span> </span> <br/>The puppy is the cutest.</li>
    59. 

  59. 

  60.       <li><span class="hanzi">四川 菜 <span class="fondjaune">最</span> 辣 <span class="fondvert">了</span>。</span><br/><span class="vert">This 了 is optional </span><br/><span class="pinyin">Sìchuān cài <span class="fondjaune">zuì</span> là <span class="fondvert">le</span> </span> <br/>Sichuan food is the spiciest.</li>
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  61. 

  62.       <li><span class="hanzi">我 的 中国 朋友 <span class="fondjaune">最</span> 热情 <span class="fondvert">了</span>。</span><br/><span class="vert">This 了 is optional </span><br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒ de Zhōngguó péngyou <span class="fondjaune">zuì</span> rèqíng <span class="fondvert">le</span> </span> <br/>My Chinese friend is the most enthusiastic.</li>
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  63. 

  64.       <li><span class="hanzi">他 的 学生 <span class="fondjaune">最</span> 认真 <span class="fondvert">了</span>。</span><br/><span class="vert">This 了 is optional </span><br/><span class="pinyin">Tā de xuésheng <span class="fondjaune">zuì</span> rènzhēn <span class="fondvert">le</span>.</span><br/> His student is the most serious.</li>
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  65. 

  66.       <li><span class="hanzi">黄山 的 风景 <span class="fondjaune">最</span> 美 <span class="fondvert">了</span>。</span><br/> <span class="vert">This 了 is optional </span><br/><span class="pinyin">Huángshān de fēngjǐng <span class="fondjaune">zuì</span> měi <span class="fondvert">le</span> </span> <br/>Huang Mountain's landscape is the most beautiful.</li>
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  67.     </ul>
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  68.   </div>
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  69. 

  70.   <h2 id="最-zuì-with-psychological-verbs"><span class="hanzist">最</span> (<span class="pinyinst">zuì</span>) with Psychological Verbs</h2>
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  71. 

  72.   <p><span class="hanzi">最</span> (<span class="pinyin">zuì</span>) can also come before <a href="psychological_verb" title="wikilink">psychological verbs</a>, to express what one "<b>most likes</b>," "<b>most hates</b>," etc. It won't make sense if you try to use <span class="hanzi">最</span> (<span class="pinyin">zuì</span>) with non-psychological verbs, though.</p>
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  73. 

  74.   <h3 id="structure-2">Structure</h3>
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  75. 

  76.   <p>The structure is:</p>
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  77. 

  78.   <div class="deux">
    79. 

  79.     <p><span class="hanzist">最</span> + [Psychological Verb] + Obj. (+ <span class="hanzist">了</span>)</p>
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  80.   </div>
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  81. 

  82.   <p>Note the <span class="hanzi">了</span> (<span class="pinyin">le</span>) on the end there! It's not strictly required, but you'll hear it a lot in spoken Chinese.</p>
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  83. 

  84.   <h3 id="examples-2">Examples</h3>
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  85. 

  86.   <div class="exemple">
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  87.     <ul>
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  88.       <li><span class="hanzi">老板 <span class="fondjaune">最</span> <span class="fondvert">喜欢</span> 你 了！</span> <br/><span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn <span class="fondjaune">zuì</span> <span class="fondvert">xǐhuan</span> nǐ le!</span><br/> The boss likes you the best!</li>
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  89. 

  90.       <li><span class="hanzi">你 <span class="fondjaune">最</span> <span class="fondvert">怕</span> 什么？</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <span class="fondjaune">zuì</span> <span class="fondvert">pà</span> shénme?</span><br/> What do you most fear?</li>
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  91. 

  92.       <li><span class="hanzi">我 <span class="fondjaune">最</span> <span class="fondvert">爱</span> 中国 菜。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒ <span class="fondjaune">zuì</span> <span class="fondvert">ài</span> Zhōngguó cài.</span> <br/>I love Chinese food most.</li>
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  93. 

  94.       <li><span class="hanzi">谁 <span class="fondjaune">最</span> <span class="fondvert">了解</span> 你？</span><br/> <span class="pinyin">Shéi <span class="fondjaune">zuì</span> <span class="fondvert">liǎojiě</span> nǐ?</span> <br/>Who knows you best?</li>
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  95. 

  96.       <li><span class="hanzi">她 <span class="fondjaune">最</span> <span class="fondvert">讨厌</span> 抽烟 的 男人 了。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Tā <span class="fondjaune">zuì</span> <span class="fondvert">tǎoyàn</span> chōuyān de nánrén le .</span> <br/>She most hates men that smoke.</li>
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  97.     </ul>
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  98.   </div>
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  99. 

  100.   <p>Although you could translate it as "<b>like the best</b>," pairing <span class="hanzi">最</span> (<span class="pinyin">zuì</span>) with the psychological verb <span class="hanzi">喜欢</span> (<span class="pinyin">xǐhuan</span>) is also a great way to talk about one's "<b>favorite</b>."</p>
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  101. 

  102.   <div class="exemple">
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  103.     <ul>
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  104.       <li><span class="hanzi">你 <span class="fondjaune">最</span> <span class="fondvert">喜欢</span> 什么 颜色？</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Nǐ <span class="fondjaune">zuì</span> <span class="fondvert">xǐhuan</span> shénme yánsè?</span> <br/>What is your favorite color?</li>
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  105. 

  106.       <li><span class="hanzi">你 <span class="fondjaune">最</span> <span class="fondvert">喜欢</span> 什么 动物？</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Nǐ zuì <span class="fondvert">xǐhuan</span> shénme dòngwù?</span><br/> What is your favorite animal?</li>
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  107.     </ul>
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  108.   </div>
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  109. 

  110.   <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
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  111. 

  112.   <ul>
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  113.     <li><a href="Expressing_&quot;excessively&quot;_with_tai" title="wikilink">Expressing "excessively" with tai</a></li>
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  114. 

  115.     <li><a href="Positive_adjectives_with_&quot;-ji_le&quot;" title="wikilink">Positive adjectives with "-ji le"</a></li>
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  116. 

  117.     <li><a href="Expressing_&quot;rather&quot;_with_&quot;bijiao&quot;" title="wikilink">Expressing "rather" with "bijiao"</a></li>
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  118.   </ul>
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  119. 

  120.   <h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further reading</h2>
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  121. 

  122.   <h3 id="books">Books</h3>
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  123. 

  124.   <ul>
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  125.     <li>New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (<span class="hanzi">新实用汉语课本3</span>) (pp. 15-6)</li>
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  126. 

  127.     <li>Mandarin Chinese: A Functional Reference Grammar (pp. 571-4)</li>
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  128. 

  129.     <li>Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (p. 344)</li>
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  130.   </ul>
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  131. </body>
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  132. </html>
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