In Mandarin, the markers 更 transcribed gèngmeaning even more and 最 transcribed zuìmeaning most are both used in comparisons, and they may seem quite similar. The difference is that 更 transcribed gèng is used to form a comparative ("even bigger," "even better," "even more") while 最 transcribed zuì is used to form a superlative ("the biggest," "the best," "the most")
Both of these markers are used before adjectives and some verbs to form a comparative or superlative. The chart below illustrates the kinds of sentences where you'll use each marker.
更 transcribed gèng | comparative | My hair is much longer. His Chinese is much better. |
最 transcribed zuì | superlative | He is one of the best students in the class. She loves to sing the most. |
Luckily, in Mandarin all of these comparatives and superlatives are regular — meaning that, there are no words with unpredictable forms like “better” or “best”! Because there is no distinction between adjectives and adverbs in Mandarin, you won't need to learn different comparative or superlative patterns for each!
Keep on reading and you will find how easy comparatives and superlatives are in Mandarin Chinese!
How to use 更 [gèng] in Mandarin comparatives?
In Mandarin Chinese, we use 更 transcribed gèng to form comparatives expressing "more than more." So if you want to say that something is "even better" or "even more impressive" or that someone drove "even farther" you'll want to form your comparison with 更 transcribed gèng. You might hear this called a "higher degree" comparative.
Comparatives are used to express to make a comparison between a pair: two people, two things, two actions, etc. Most often, you'll be making a comparison between two nouns, so you'll need a comparative adjective like "taller," "more interesting" or "better." However, in Mandarin, we can also form comparatives from state verbs “like,” “love,” “want,” or “need,” which describe ideas connected to our minds and thoughts.
Let's talk first about comparative adjectives, then turn to this second case.
How to form comparative adjectives with 更 (gèng)?
To form a comparative adjective with 更 transcribed gèng, simply place 更 before an adjective. Simple!
You'll mostly use these in affirmative sentences. If you have read our post on 比 transcribed bǐmeaning than, you know that we use 比 transcribed bǐ between the two entities that you want to compare. We can add 更 transcribed gèng to indicate the meaning of “even more…” This is the basic pattern:
A
B
Adjective
Remember that you should only include 更 transcribed gèng in a comparative sentence when you want to say that one thing has "much more" of a quality than another. If you just want to use a normal "more" you don't need a marker there at all. Compare:
- 我弟弟比我高。Transcription: Wǒ dìdi bǐ wǒ gāo.Translation: My younger brother is taller than me.
- 我弟弟比我更高。Transcription: Wǒ dìdi bǐ wǒ gèng gāo.Translation: My younger brother is much taller than me.
In this pattern, sometimes we can omit the second person/object in a context where it is easily understood to simply indicate that someone or something is much more something.
How to use 更 (gèng) with state / mental verbs?
Use 更 transcribed gèng before state (also called “mental") verbs when making comparisons. State verbs are verbs that describe ideas connected to our minds and thoughts. Some state verbs in Mandarin are 喜欢 transcribed xǐhuanmeaning to like, 爱 transcribed àimeaning to love, 想 transcribed xiǎngmeaning to want, 需要 transcribed xūyàomeaning to need), etc. When they are used with comparatives, we add 更 transcribed gèng before these state verbs.
Please note that only the state verbs mentioned above can go with 更 transcribed gèng. Action verbs, like “to run,” “to watch,” etc., cannot be modified by 更 transcribed gèng and you need to use the with an action verb if you insert a state verb between the Chinese word 更 transcribed gèng and the action verb. In order to form the sentence “They want to watch this movie more than that one,” we need to say it like this in Mandarin:
In the examples above, the action verb is 看 transcribed kànmeaning to watch. Since action verbs cannot be modified by 更 transcribed gèng, we need to insert a state verb. 想 transcribed xiǎngmeaning to want is the state verb in the first example — between 更 transcribed gèng and the action verb.
Let’s look at some more examples:
For action verbs the 比 comparison structure should be used. Τhe pattern is shown below:
Of course, we can add 更 transcribed gèng to express a higher level. How do we say, “He runs much faster than me” in Mandarin Chinese? The correct answer is:
Please pay attention here to the fact that 更 transcribed gèng is used to modify the adverb 快 transcribed kuàimeaning fast and it is not used to modify the action verb 跑 transcribed pǎomeaning to run
How to use superlatives with 最 (zuì, “most”) in Mandarin Chinese
Superlatives are used to indicate how one person or an object, etc. is different from all the others of the same kind. The same as with comparatives, most of the time an adjective is used as a superlative (“tallest,” “smallest,” “best,” etc.). Sometimes, superlatives can also work with state verbs, which describe ideas connected to our minds and thoughts, just as we discussed above.
How to form superlative adjectives with 最 (zuì)?
To form Mandarin Chinese superlatives, add 最 transcribed zuì before any adjective. Unlike how there is in English, there is no need to make changes to the adjective in Mandarin.
How to use 最 (zuì) with state verbs?
State verbs can also be used after the superlative marker 最 transcribed zuì. Sometimes you will see there is a 了 transcribed le added to the end of an assertive or declarative sentence (statement form), simply in order to express an excessive amount or degree of something. However, 了 transcribed le is optional.
To sum up
In Mandarin, simply adding the comparative marker 更 transcribed gèng or the superlative marker 最 transcribed zuì before an adjective or a state verb will form a comparative or a superlative.
A (+ 比 + B) + 更 transcribed gèng + adjective
这件衣服(比那件衣服)更好看。Transcription: Zhèjiàn yīfu (bǐ nàjiàn yīfu) gèng hǎokàn.Translation: This piece of clothes is prettier (than that one).State verbs with 更 transcribed gèng
我更需要你的帮助。Transcription: Wǒ gèng xūyào nǐde bāngzhù.Translation: I need your help much more.Superlative adjectives with 最 transcribed zuì
谁的汉语最好？Transcription: Shuí de hànyǔ zuì hǎo?Translation: Whose Chinese is the best?State verbs with 最 transcribed zuì
我最喜欢蓝色(了)。Transcription: Wǒ zuì xǐhuan lánsè (le).Translation: I like blue the best.
Are you ready to try these exercises to practice using 更 transcribed gèng and 最 transcribed zuì in Mandarin Chinese? You will find how easy comparatives and superlatives are!
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