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Chinese grammar - Superlatives with 最 (zuì)

Superlatives with 最 (zuì)

Superlatives are used to express the highest degree of a quality, similar to saying 'the most' or 'the best' in English.

In Chinese superlatives can be formed using the adverb (zuì), which means 'the most'.

This word is placed before an adjective to indicate the highest degree of that quality.

Examples:
她是最漂亮的学生。
tā shì zuì piàoliang de xuéshēng.
She is the most beautiful student.
这是最好的答案。
zhè shì zuì hǎo de dá'àn.
This is the best answer.
这是最重要的事情。
zhè shì zuì zhòngyào de shìqíng.
This is the most important thing.
他是最聪明的学生。
tā shì zuì cōngmíng de xuéshēng.
He is the smartest student.
这是最便宜的手机。
zhè shì zuì piányi de shǒujī.
This is the cheapest phone.
她是最有名的歌手。
tā shì zuì yǒumíng de gēshǒu.
She is the most famous singer.

有名 (yǒumíng) means 'famous'

歌手 (gēshǒu) means 'singer'

这是最美味的菜。
zhè shì zuì měiwèi de cài.
This is the most delicious dish.

美味 (měiwèi) means 'delicious'

他是最快的跑步者。
tā shì zuì kuài de pǎobùzhě.
He is the fastest runner.

跑步者 (pǎobùzhě) means 'runner'

这是最难的问题。
zhè shì zuì nán de wèntí.
This is the most difficult question.
她是最开心的人。
tā shì zuì kāixīn de rén.
She is the happiest person.
他是最强的选手。
tā shì zuì qiáng de xuánshǒu.
He is the strongest contestant.

(qiáng) means 'strong'

选手 (xuán shǒu) means 'player'

这是最新的电影。
zhè shì zuì xīn de diànyǐng.
This is the newest movie.
她是最友好的同事。
tā shì zuì yóuhǎo de tóngshì.
She is the friendliest colleague.

友好 (yǒuhǎo) means 'friendly'

这是最长的河。
zhè shì zuì cháng de hé.
This is the longest river.
这是非洲和世界上最长的河。
zhè shì fēizhōu hé shìjiè shàng zuì cháng de hé.
This is the longest river in Africa and in the world.

非洲 (Fēizhōu) means 'Africa'

世界 (shìjiè) means 'world'

他是最好的朋友。
tā shì zuì hǎo de péngyǒu.
He is the best friend.
这是最亮的星星。
zhè shì zuì liàng de xīngxing.
This is the brightest star.

星星 (xīngxing) means 'star'

她是最认真的学生。
tā shì zuì rènzhēn de xuéshēng.
She is the most diligent student.
他是最有钱的人。
tā shì zuì yǒuqián de rén.
He is the richest person.

有钱 (yǒuqián) means 'rich'

她是我们班最漂亮的学生。
tā shì wǒmen bān zuì piàoliang de xuéshēng.
She is the most beautiful student in our class.