Chinese adjectives

Where do adjectives go in Chinese?

Before the noun, joined by 的: 漂亮的衣服 (piàoliang de yīfu, pretty clothes). A one-syllable adjective often joins with no 的, as in 好人 (a good person). After the subject, an adjective is the whole predicate, with no 是: 她很高兴 (tā hěn gāoxìng, she’s happy), where 很 is often just the link, not “very”.

How do you say “more” and “most” in Chinese?

Chinese adjectives never change form. Put 更 before one for “more” (更好, better) and 最 for “most” (最好, best), and compare with 比: 今天比昨天冷 (jīntiān bǐ zuótiān lěng, today is colder than yesterday).

What is adjective reduplication?

Doubling an adjective makes it vivid: 高高的 (nice and tall), 红红的 (bright red). Two-character adjectives double as AABB: 高高兴兴 (happily), 干干净净 (spotless).

More words

• Chinese adverbs
• The most common verbs
• Colours in Chinese