The Most and Fairly: 最 and 比较
最 for the top of the scale (最好, 最喜欢), and 比较 for a mild "fairly, rather" -- the softer cousin of 很.
最: the most
最 (zuì) before an adjective or a liking verb marks the top: 最好 (zuì hǎo) (the best), 最贵 (zuì guì) (the most expensive), 我最喜欢夏天。 (Wǒ zuì xǐhuan xiàtiān.) (I like summer best).
To say "of all" or "in the class," put the group first: 我们班他最高 (he's the tallest in our class).
Quick check
1. I like coffee best:
比较: fairly, rather
比较 (bǐjiào) + adjective softens a statement: 今天比较冷。 (Jīntiān bǐjiào lěng.) (It's fairly cold today.) It's more cautious than 很, and very common in polite talk.
比较 can also mean "comparatively" -- compared with something understood: 这个比较便宜 (this one's cheaper, of the two).
Quick check
1. Which is the most cautious?
Try it yourself
Write a sentence or two using what this lesson covered. Not graded -- just for you, saved so you can come back to it.
Pick with a tap, a number key or Space. A Chinese keyboard on your device works in the box below too.
Final review
0/16 answered across this lesson
1. 最好吃的菜 means:
2. Match.
3. Which season does the speaker like best?
4. Complete (characters or pinyin).
5. Complete (characters or pinyin).
6. Complete (characters or pinyin).
7. Say it in Chinese (characters or pinyin).
8. Say it in Chinese (characters or pinyin).
9. Say it in Chinese (characters or pinyin).
10. Say it in Chinese (characters or pinyin).
11. Say it in Chinese (characters or pinyin).
12. Say it in Chinese (characters or pinyin).
13. Translate into English.
14. Say your favourite season.
Say your answer out loud and record it, then compare it with the model.
Tip: zuì is a sharp fall.