Language/Mandarin-chinese/Grammar/Superlative-Form-and-Usage

◀️ Comparative Form and Usage — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Chinese and International Cities ▶️

Mandarin Chinese Grammar → Comparative and Superlative → Superlative Form and Usage

As a Mandarin Chinese teacher with 20 years of experience, I am excited to teach you the rules for forming and using superlative adjectives and adverbs in Mandarin Chinese. In this lesson, you will learn how to express the highest degree of comparison in Mandarin Chinese.

Take a moment to explore these relevant pages as you conclude this lesson: Conditional Mood & Connect two nouns with 是 (shì).

Superlative Form

To form superlative adjectives and adverbs in Mandarin Chinese, you generally add the word "最" (zuì) before the adjective or adverb. The word "最" means "most" or "the most".

For example:

Mandarin Chinese	Pronunciation	English
最好	zuì hǎo	the best
最大	zuì dà	the biggest
最快	zuì kuài	the fastest
最多	zuì duō	the most

Note that the adjective should be placed after "最" in the sentence.

Superlative Usage

The superlative is used to express the highest degree of comparison. It is generally used to compare three or more things or people, and to indicate which one is the "most" or "best" in a certain context.

For example:

• "这是我最喜欢的书" (Zhè shì wǒ zuì xǐ huān de shū) means "This is my favorite book."
• "他是班里最聪明的学生" (Tā shì bān lǐ zuì cōng míng de xué shēng) means "He is the smartest student in the class."

When using the superlative to compare nouns, we add the particle "的" (de) after the noun.

For example:

• "这是我最喜欢的歌手" (Zhè shì wǒ zuì xǐ huān de gē shǒu) means "This is my favorite singer."

Irregular Usage

Some adjectives and adverbs have irregular superlative forms. Here are some examples:

Mandarin Chinese	Pronunciation	English
最好的	zuì hǎo de	the best
最大的	zuì dà de	the biggest
最小的	zuì xiǎo de	the smallest
最便宜的	zuì pián yi de	the cheapest
最贵的	zuì guì de	the most expensive
最多的	zuì duō de	the most

These adjectives and adverbs require the particle "的" (de) after the superlative word "最" (zuì).

Practice

Let's practice forming and using superlative adjectives and adverbs in Mandarin Chinese. Complete the following sentences with the appropriate superlative form:

1. 她是家里_____________的人。(tall) 2. 这是我_____________的电影。(favorite) 3. 这是_____________城市。(big) 4. 这是我_____________的课。(difficult)

1. 她是家里最高的人。(Tā shì jiā lǐ zuì gāo de rén.) 2. 这是我最喜欢的电影。(Zhè shì wǒ zuì xǐ huān de diàn yǐng.) 3. 这是最大的城市。(Zhè shì zuì dà de chéng shì.) 4. 这是我最难的课。(Zhè shì wǒ zuì nán de kè.)

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have learned how to form and use superlative adjectives and adverbs in Mandarin Chinese. Keep practicing and incorporating these grammar rules into your everyday conversations.

Sources

• Mandarin Chinese grammar
• Superlative

Impressive work on finishing this lesson! Explore these additional pages to enhance your understanding: 个 (ge) & Negation.

Table of Contents - Mandarin Chinese Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Pinyin and Tones

• Pinyin Introduction
• Tones Introduction
• Tone Pairs

  ---

Greetings and Basic Expressions

• Greeting People
• Basic Expressions
• Numbers and Counters

  ---

Sentence Structure and Word Order

• Subject-Verb-Object Structure
• Question Words and Question Structure
• Adjectives and Adverbs
• Negation and Conjunctions
• Particles and Structure Particles

  ---

Daily Life and Survival Expressions

• Asking for Directions
• Ordering Food and Drinks
• Shopping and Bargaining
• Transport and Travel
• Emergencies and Medical Care

  ---

Chinese Festivals and Traditions

• Spring Festival and Chunyun
• Mid-Autumn Festival and Mooncakes
• Dragon Boat Festival and Zongzi
• Double Ninth Festival and Chongyang Cake

  ---

Verbs and Verb Usage

• Action Verbs and Stative Verbs
• Modal Verbs and Auxiliary Verbs
• Complex Verb Phrases

  ---

Hobbies, Sports and Activities

• Leisure Activities and Hobbies
• Sports and Exercise
• Outdoor Activities and Nature
• Music and Film

  ---

China's Geography and Landmarks

• China's Four Great Ancient Capitals
• Famous Chinese Mountains and Rivers
• China's Great Wall

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Common and Proper Nouns
• Personal Pronouns and Possessive Pronouns
• Demonstrative Pronouns and Interrogative Pronouns

  ---

Professions and Personality Traits

• Professions and Jobs
• Personality Traits and Characteristics
• Emotions and Feelings

  ---

Chinese Traditional Arts and Crafts

• Chinese Calligraphy and Painting
• Chinese Opera and Drama
• Chinese Knots and Paper-cutting

  ---

Comparative and Superlative

• Comparative Form and Usage
• Superlative Form and Usage

  ---

Cities, Countries and Tourist Destinations

• Chinese and International Cities
• Country Names and Nationalities
• Tourist Attractions and Transportation

  ---

Modern China and Current Events

• China's Economy and Business Landscape
• Chinese Art and Entertainment Scene
• Current Events and Issues in China and Beyond

Other Lessons

• Be Polite
• Express "excessively" with 太 (tài)
• Complex Verb Phrases
• Conditional Mood
• How to Use Have
• Common and Proper Nouns
• Mastering Chinese Grammar Easily – 8 Rules You Need to Know
• Demonstrative Pronouns and Interrogative Pronouns
• Plurals
• Basic structure of a sentence

◀️ Comparative Form and Usage — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Chinese and International Cities ▶️