Language/Mandarin-chinese/Grammar/Adjectives-and-Adverbs

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Mandarin ChineseGrammar0 to A1 Course → Sentence Structure and Word Order → Adjectives and Adverbs

Introduction[edit | edit source]

Welcome to the lesson on "Adjectives and Adverbs" in Mandarin Chinese! In this lesson, we will explore how adjectives and adverbs are classified and positioned in Mandarin Chinese sentences. Adjectives and adverbs play a crucial role in expressing the characteristics, qualities, and manner of actions in a sentence. Understanding how to use them correctly will greatly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in Mandarin Chinese. So let's dive in and explore the fascinating world of adjectives and adverbs in Mandarin Chinese!

Classification of Adjectives and Adverbs[edit | edit source]

Before we delve into the usage and positioning of adjectives and adverbs, let's first understand how they are classified in Mandarin Chinese. Adjectives and adverbs can be classified into several categories based on their functions and meanings. Here are some of the main categories:

Descriptive Adjectives and Adverbs[edit | edit source]

Descriptive adjectives and adverbs are used to describe the characteristics or qualities of a noun or verb. They provide additional information about the subject or action. For example:

Mandarin Chinese Pronunciation English
这个房间很大。 Zhège fángjiān hěn dà. This room is very big.
他跑得很快。 Tā pǎo de hěn kuài. He runs very fast.

In the first example, the adjective "大" (dà) meaning "big" describes the noun "房间" (fángjiān) meaning "room," while in the second example, the adverb "很快" (hěn kuài) meaning "very fast" describes the verb "跑" (pǎo) meaning "run."

Comparative Adjectives and Adverbs[edit | edit source]

Comparative adjectives and adverbs are used to compare two or more things or actions. They indicate a higher or lower degree of a certain quality or characteristic. For example:

Mandarin Chinese Pronunciation English
这个苹果比那个苹果大。 Zhège píngguǒ bǐ nàge píngguǒ dà. This apple is bigger than that apple.
他比我跑得更快。 Tā bǐ wǒ pǎo de gèng kuài. He runs faster than me.

In the first example, the comparative adjective "大" (dà) meaning "big" is used to compare the size of two apples. In the second example, the comparative adverb "更快" (gèng kuài) meaning "faster" is used to compare the speed of two people running.

Superlative Adjectives and Adverbs[edit | edit source]

Superlative adjectives and adverbs are used to indicate the highest or lowest degree of a certain quality or characteristic among a group of things or actions. They express the extreme end of a spectrum. For example:

Mandarin Chinese Pronunciation English
这个苹果是最大的。 Zhège píngguǒ shì zuì dà de. This apple is the biggest.
他是跑得最快的。 Tā shì pǎo de zuì kuài de. He runs the fastest.

In the first example, the superlative adjective "最大" (zuì dà) meaning "the biggest" is used to indicate that this apple has the highest degree of size among a group of apples. In the second example, the superlative adverb "最快" (zuì kuài) meaning "the fastest" is used to indicate that he has the highest degree of speed among a group of runners.

Modal Adjectives and Adverbs[edit | edit source]

Modal adjectives and adverbs are used to express the speaker's attitude, opinion, or judgment towards a certain action or situation. They provide additional information about the speaker's perspective. For example:

Mandarin Chinese Pronunciation English
这个电影很有意思。 Zhège diànyǐng hěn yǒuyìsi. This movie is very interesting.
我非常喜欢吃辣的食物。 Wǒ fēicháng xǐhuān chī là de shíwù. I really like spicy food.

In the first example, the modal adjective "有意思" (yǒuyìsi) meaning "interesting" expresses the speaker's opinion about the movie. In the second example, the modal adverb "非常" (fēicháng) meaning "really" emphasizes the speaker's strong liking for spicy food.

Positioning of Adjectives and Adverbs[edit | edit source]

Now that we have classified the different types of adjectives and adverbs, let's explore how they are positioned in Mandarin Chinese sentences. The positioning of adjectives and adverbs is a crucial aspect of Mandarin Chinese grammar, as it can greatly affect the meaning and clarity of a sentence. Here are some guidelines to help you understand the correct positioning of adjectives and adverbs:

Positioning of Adjectives[edit | edit source]

In Mandarin Chinese, adjectives generally come before the noun they modify. This is similar to the English language. For example:

Mandarin Chinese Pronunciation English
一个漂亮的女孩 Yīgè piàoliang de nǚhái A beautiful girl
一本有趣的书 Yī běn yǒuqù de shū An interesting book

In the first example, the adjective "漂亮" (piàoliang) meaning "beautiful" comes before the noun "女孩" (nǚhái) meaning "girl." In the second example, the adjective "有趣" (yǒuqù) meaning "interesting" comes before the noun "书" (shū) meaning "book."

However, there are cases where adjectives can come after the noun for emphasis or poetic effect. This is more common in literary or poetic contexts. For example:

Mandarin Chinese Pronunciation English
一只小猫可爱极了。 Yī zhī xiǎo māo kě'ài jíle. The little cat is extremely cute.
这个城市繁华异常。 Zhège chéngshì fánhuá yìcháng. This city is exceptionally bustling.

In these examples, the adjectives "可爱极了" (kě'ài jíle) meaning "extremely cute" and "繁华异常" (fánhuá yìcháng) meaning "exceptionally bustling" come after the noun for emphasis.

Positioning of Adverbs[edit | edit source]

The positioning of adverbs in Mandarin Chinese sentences can vary depending on the type of adverb and the emphasis or clarity the speaker wants to convey. Here are some guidelines for positioning adverbs:

1. Adverbs of manner (how something is done) generally come before the verb. For example:

Mandarin Chinese Pronunciation English
他快速地跑过去。 Tā kuàisù de pǎo guòqù. He quickly ran over.
她认真地学习汉语。 Tā rènzhēn de xuéxí Hànyǔ. She studies Mandarin Chinese seriously.

In these examples, the adverbs "快速地" (kuàisù de) meaning "quickly" and "认真地" (rènzhēn de) meaning "seriously" come before the verbs "跑" (pǎo) meaning "run" and "学习" (xuéxí) meaning "study" respectively.

2. Adverbs of frequency (how often something is done) usually come before the verb. For example:

Mandarin Chinese Pronunciation English
我经常去图书馆。 Wǒ jīngcháng qù túshūguǎn. I often go to the library.
他很少吃肉。 Tā hěn shǎo chī ròu. He rarely eats meat.

In these examples, the adverbs "经常" (jīngcháng) meaning "often" and "很少" (hěn shǎo) meaning "rarely" come before the verbs "去" (qù) meaning "go" and "吃" (chī) meaning "eat" respectively.

3. Adverbs of time (when something is done) can come before or after the verb, depending on the emphasis or clarity the speaker wants to convey. For example:

Mandarin Chinese Pronunciation English
昨天我去了北京。 Zuótiān wǒ qùle Běijīng. Yesterday, I went to Beijing.
我明天会打电话给你。 Wǒ míngtiān huì dǎ diànhuà gěi nǐ. I will call you tomorrow.

In these examples, the adverbs "昨天" (zuótiān) meaning "yesterday" and "明天" (míngtiān) meaning "tomorrow" can come either before or after the verb to indicate the time of the action.

Practice Exercise[edit | edit source]

Now that we have learned about the classification and positioning of adjectives and adverbs, let's practice using them in sentences. Translate the following sentences from English to Mandarin Chinese, paying attention to the correct placement of adjectives and adverbs.

1. The tall building is very beautiful. 2. She sings beautifully. 3. This book is much more interesting than that book. 4. He speaks Chinese fluently. 5. They work diligently every day.

Once you have completed the exercise, you can check your answers below:

1. 那栋高楼非常漂亮。 2. 她唱得很美。 3. 这本书比那本书有趣得多。 4. 他说中文流利。 5. 他们每天都勤奋工作。

Conclusion[edit | edit source]

Congratulations! You have completed the lesson on "Adjectives and Adverbs" in Mandarin Chinese. You have learned about the classification and positioning of adjectives and adverbs, which are essential for expressing characteristics, qualities, and manner in Mandarin Chinese sentences. By practicing and using adjectives and adverbs correctly, you will be able to communicate more effectively and accurately in Mandarin Chinese. Keep up the good work, and continue building your language skills. 加油! (Jiāyóu!) Good luck!

Table of Contents - Mandarin Chinese Course - 0 to A1[edit source]


Pinyin and Tones


Greetings and Basic Expressions


Sentence Structure and Word Order


Daily Life and Survival Expressions


Chinese Festivals and Traditions


Verbs and Verb Usage


Hobbies, Sports and Activities


China's Geography and Landmarks


Nouns and Pronouns


Professions and Personality Traits


Chinese Traditional Arts and Crafts


Comparative and Superlative


Cities, Countries and Tourist Destinations


Modern China and Current Events



Other Lessons[edit | edit source]



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