Chinese Grammar Bank
HOW TO USE 最
In this lesson we will proceed to teach you how to form a superlative (biggest, best, worst, etc.) in Chinese.
Unlike English, we do not change the form of the adjective by adding “-est.” Instead, we use the intensifier 最 (zuì) before the adjective to express the most.
最 WITH ADJECTIVES
In Chinese, we put 最 (zuì) before the adjective to form superlatives. The structure is as follows:
PATTERN
最 + Adjective
Note that we can only use 最 (zuì) if we compare three or more objects. For comparing two things, use 比 (bǐ).
最 WITH 了 (OPTIONAL)
Occasionally you’ll also see a 了 (le) added after the adjective. This simply adds emphasis to the “-est.”
PATTERN
最 + Adjective (+ 了)
Remember, we can only apply this pattern in informal situations.
NOTE || 了 (le) is optional in the sentence pattern that uses 最 (zuì) to express superlative.
You can add it to strengthen your tone, but it’s not essential.
最 WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL VERBS
Besides the adjectives, we can also place the psychological verbs after the 最 (zuì). Psychological verbs are the verbs that related to people’s psychological status, such as “like”, “hate”, “love”, etc. The sentence structure is:
PATTERN
最 + [Psychological Verb] + Object (+ 了)
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FAQs
What does 最 mean?
In Chinese, we use the intensifier 最 (zuì) before the adjective to express the most. This lets us form superlatives (biggest, best, worst, etc.) when comparing a noun to the rest.
How do you say 最?
The character 最 is pronounced zuì.
Can I use 最 when comparing two objects?
No! You can only use 最 when comparing three or more objects. If you want to compare two objects, then you need to use 比 (bǐ).
What are some example sentences with 最?
Here are some example sentences with 最:
– 南极是世界上最冷的地方之一。nán jí shì shì jiè shàng zuì lěng de dì fāng zhī yī. Antarctica is one of the coldest places in the world.
– 小狗最可爱了。xiǎo gǒu zuì kě ài le. Puppy is the cutest.
– 我最害怕蜘蛛了。wǒ zuì hài pà zhī zhū le. I am most afraid of spiders.
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