You may remember way back in school, your teacher will have told you that an adjective is a describing word. Well, just like in English, a Chinese adjective is added to a noun to give it a quality or to define it in a better way.
You could say that adjectives are all about making the noun better.
Whether it's in English, Chinese, or any other languages, a world without adjectives would be a very dull and boring world indeed. There would be no fast cars, they'd just be cars. No sunny days, they'd just be days...
So, let's celebrate the power of the descriptive word, and find out all about Chinese adjectives.
According to the noun it's linked to, adjectives can have:
An attributive function, when it is linked directly to a noun.
Practice Your Pronunciation With Rocket Record
Rocket Record lets you perfect your Chinese pronunciation. Just listen to the native speaker audio and then use the microphone icon to record yourself. Once you’re done, you’ll get a score out of 100 on your pronunciation and can listen to your own audio playback. (Use a headset mic for best results.) Problems? Click here!
我喜欢蓝色的天空。
Wǒ xǐhuān lánsè de tiānkōng。
I like blue sky.
0%
A predicative function, when it is linked to the noun through the verb 是 shì (to be).
The adjectives that are used to describe nouns in Chinese are always put IN FRONT OF the noun they describe, no matter how long or short the adjective description is.
We love Chinese people and Chinese culture - from irresistible C-dramas and comforting wonton soup to the majestic Forbidden City and ancient martial art forms! And there's no better way to connect with them than by learning 中文 (Chinese).
