Language/Mandarin-chinese/Grammar/Adjectives

Mandarin Chinese Grammar - Adjectives

Hi Mandarin Chinese learners! 😊

In this lesson, we will learn about adjectives in Mandarin Chinese. Adjectives are used to describe or modify nouns. They usually come before the noun they modify. For example, in the sentence "The green apple is tasty," "green" is the adjective that describes the apple.

Let's start with some basic vocabulary you will need to know:

Consider broadening your understanding by checking out these related lessons: 是...的, How to ask a question in Chinese, Ask how to do something with 怎么 (zěnme) & Adjectives and Adverbs.

Vocabulary

绿色	lǜsè	green
红色	hóngsè	red
大	dà	big
小	xiǎo	small

Formation of Adjectives

In Mandarin Chinese, most adjectives are formed by adding the adjective suffix -的 (de) at the end of a noun. For example:

• Noun + 的 (de) = Adjective
• 餐厅 (cāntīng) restaurant
• 餐厅的 (cāntīng de) restaurant (adjective)
• 餐厅的菜很好吃。 (Cāntīng de cài hěn hǎochī) The restaurant's dishes are delicious.

In the above example, we see that the noun "restaurant" becomes the adjective "restaurant's" by adding 的 (de) at the end. In the full sentence, we use this adjective to describe the dishes of the restaurant.

Here's another example:

• Noun + 的 (de) = Adjective
• 花 (huā) flower
• 花的 (huā de) floral
• 花的裙子很漂亮。 (Huā de qúnzi hěn piàoliang) The floral skirt is very pretty.

In this example, we see that the noun "flower" becomes the adjective "floral" by adding 的 (de) at the end. In the full sentence, we use this adjective to describe the skirt.

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

Now let's learn how to compare adjectives in Mandarin Chinese. To form comparative adjectives, we use the adjective + 比 (bǐ) + another noun. For example:

• 漂亮 (piàoliang) pretty
• 比 (bǐ) more
• 漂亮的 (piàoliang de) pretty
• 小狗 (xiǎogǒu) puppy
• 漂亮的小狗 (piàoliang de xiǎogǒu) pretty puppy
• 漂亮的小狗比 (piàoliang de xiǎogǒu bǐ) prettier than...
• 漂亮的小狗比大狗漂亮。 (Piàoliang de xiǎogǒu bǐ dà gǒu piàoliang) The pretty puppy is prettier than the big dog.

In the above example, we see that we use the adjective "pretty" and add 比 (bǐ) to say "prettier than" and compare the puppy to the big dog.

To form superlative adjectives, we use the adjective + 最 (zuì) + another noun. For example:

• 漂亮 (piàoliang) pretty
• 最 (zuì) most
• 漂亮的 (piàoliang de) pretty
• 小狗 (xiǎogǒu) puppy
• 漂亮的小狗 (piàoliang de xiǎogǒu) pretty puppy
• 最漂亮的 (zuì piàoliang de) prettiest
• 最漂亮的小狗。 (Zuì piàoliang de xiǎogǒu) The prettiest puppy.

In the above example, we see that we use the adjective "pretty" and add 最 (zuì) and 的 (de) to make it "prettiest."

Let's put this into dialogue:

• Person 1: 这只小狗很漂亮。 (Zhè zhī xiǎogǒu hěn piàoliang) This puppy is pretty.
• Person 2: 是啊，漂亮的小狗比大狗好看。 (Shì a, piàoliang de xiǎogǒu bǐ dà gǒu hǎokàn) Yes, the pretty puppy is prettier than the big dog.
• Person 1: 它是最漂亮的小狗。 (Tā shì zuì piàoliang de xiǎogǒu) It is the prettiest puppy.

Irregular Adjectives

Some adjectives in Mandarin Chinese are irregular and don't follow the above rules. For example:

• 好 (hǎo) good
• 坏 (huài) bad
• 多 (duō) many, much
• 少 (shǎo) few, little

These adjectives do not take 的 (de) when modifying a noun, but rather they can be used directly as adjectives. For example:

• 我的车很好。 (Wǒ de chē hěn hǎo) My car is good.
• 他的汉语不好。 (Tā de Hànyǔ bù hǎo) His Chinese is not good.
• 这个人很坏。 (Zhège rén hěn huài) This person is bad.
• 有多少人在这儿？ (Yǒu duōshǎo rén zài zhèr?) How many people are here?

Note that 多 (duō) and 少 (shǎo) can also be used as adverbs to indicate the degree or amount of something, rather than as adjectives. For example:

• 我的车有多快？ (Wǒ de chē yǒu duō kuài?) How fast is my car?
• 他的汉语说得很少。 (Tā de Hànyǔ shuō de hěn shǎo) He speaks Chinese very little.

Summary

In summary, adjectives in Mandarin Chinese are formed by adding 的 (de) at the end of a noun. To compare adjectives, we use 比 (bǐ) for comparative and 最 (zuì) for superlative. Irregular adjectives don't take 的 (de) when modifying a noun.

Now that you have learned about adjectives in Mandarin Chinese, try incorporating them into your speaking and writing. To improve your Mandarin Chinese Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

---

➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Other Lessons

• 和 (hé)
• Transition words
• Ask for directions in Chinese
• How to Use be
• Express existence with 有 (yǒu)
• Questions
• 吗 ma
• 都 (dōu)
• Be Polite
• 呢 ne