How to use ‘jian zhi’ in Chinese

简直 (jiǎnzhí) is similar to "simply" or "completely" in English, and can be used to modify adjectives or verbs, adding a tone of amazement on the part of the speaker.

"简直"和英文里的"simply"或者"completely"类似，可以用于修饰形容词或动词，增加说话者的惊讶语气。

Using 简直 to modify verbs

Subject + 简直 + Verb

Examples

你简直不是人。

nǐ jiǎn zhí bú shì rén.

You simply aren't a person.

你的房间简直像一个战场，快点收拾！

nǐ de fáng jiān jiǎn zhí xiàng yī gè zhàn chǎng, kuài diǎn shōu shí!

Your room looks like a complete war zone. Hurry up and clean it!

我简直不敢相信！

wǒ jiǎn zhí bú gǎn xiàng xìn!

I simply can't bring myself to believe it.

我简直不知道该怎么说服你。

wǒ jiǎn zhí bú zhī dào gāi zěn me shuō fú nǐ.

I just don't know how I should persuade you.

简直 is often used with "就是在 + verb" or "是在 + verb" structure.

"简直"经常用在"就是在+动词"或"是在+动词"的结构。

他们认为进行额外投资简直就是在浪费时间。

tā men rèn wéi jìn háng é wài tóu zī jiǎn zhí jiù shì zài làng fèi shí jiān.

They think the extra investment here is simply perceived as a waste of time.

他简直是在骗你。

tā jiǎn zhí shì zài piàn nǐ.

He's just lying to you.

S + (Object) + Verb + 得 + 简直 + Adjective

Examples

他普通话说得简直比中国人还标准！

tā pǔ tōng huà shuō dé jiǎn zhí bǐ zhōng guó rén hái biāo zhǔn!

He simply speaks Mandarin more correctly than Chinese people!

中国的高速铁路修建得简直太快了！

zhōng guó de gāo sù tiě lù xiū jiàn de jiǎn zhí tài kuài le!

China's elevated railroad was simply built really fast!

Using 简直 to modify adjectives

S + 简直 + Adjective

Examples

你的男朋友简直太帅了！

nǐ de nán péng yǒu jiǎn zhí tài shuài le!

Your boyfriend is just so handsome!

他的考试成绩简直好极了！

tā de kǎo shì chéng jì jiǎn zhí hǎo jí le!

His test grades are simply fantastic!

However, although it is possible in English to say something is "simply beautiful", in Chinese, 简直 cannot be followed directly by an unmodified adjective. Modifiers like 太, 很 and 极了 can be used, as in the following examples:

不过，尽管英文里可以说"something is simply beautiful"，但在中文里，"简直"后不能接未修饰的形容词。可以使用如"太"、"很"和"极了"这样的修饰语，像下面的例子一样：

She is so beautiful!

(WRONG) 她简直漂亮！

(CORRECT) 她简直太漂亮了！

(CORRECT) 她简直漂亮极了！

Translated from: allsetlearning

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