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How to express “too much” in Chinese

太多了, too much in Chinese, learning chinese

When we directly translate "too much" or "too many" to Chinese, the closest translation is definitely "太多 (tài duō)". However, the phrase "too much" in English has many more uses than "太多 (tài duō)" does in Chinese. So, let's take a look at how to use this simple phrase correctly in Mandarin.

1. If "too much" or "too many" modifies a real object (not an abstract concept), it's completely acceptable to use "太多 (tài duō)". The structure is "太多 (tài duō)+的 (de)+noun" or "Subject+太多 (tài duō)+了 (le)". For example:

你的衣服太多了 (nǐ de yīfu tài duō le)!= You have too many clothes.

他有太多的女朋友 (tā yǒu tài duō de nǚpéngyou)。= He has too many girlfriends.

One thing you should know is that although these two sentences are both grammatically correct, Chinese people would rarely use the second one. The "Subject+太多+了" construction is more useful.

他的女朋友太多了 (tā de nǚpéngyou tài duō le)。= He has too many girlfriends.

你的钱太多了 (nǐ de qián tài duō le)。 = You have too much money.

你知道的太多了 (nǐ zhīdào de tài duō le)。= You know too much.

2. However, if "too much" instead modifies an abstract noun like "cold" or "comfort," using "太多 (tài duō)" is incorrect: please don't do this anymore! In Chinese, these words are only regarded as adjectives: not nouns like in English. Instead of "太多 (tài duō)," use adverbs that we can use modify an adjective, such as 太 (tài)……了 (le):   

太冷了 (tài lěng le) = too much cold

太舒服了 (tài shūfu le) = too comfortable

The main idea is this: to know if you should use "太多 (tài duō)" or "太 (tài)……了(le)," ask yourself if the word after "too much" is a noun or adjective in Chinese. For nouns, use "太多 (tài duō)," and for adjectives, use "太(tài)……了(le)."

3. Sometimes in English, we use "too much" to express someone "going too far," or "overdoing it." In this case, "过分 (guòfèn)" or "过头 (guòtóu)" are good choices: Subject/a statement sentence + 过分 (guòfèn)"/过头 (guòtóu) + 了 (le).      

你过分了 (nǐ guòfèn le)。= It's too much of you.

你这么做太过分了 (nǐ zhème zuò tài guòfèn le)。 = It's too much of you to do this.

4. Another common English structure is the use of the word "much" in a comparison sentence, such as "He is much taller than you." In this case, "多了 (duō le)/太多 (tài duō)/得多 (de duō)" should be used. The structure is: A+比+B+adjective+多了/太多/得多.      

他比你帅多了 (tā bǐ nǐ shuà duō le)。= He is much more handsome than you.

泰国菜比英国菜好吃太多了 (Tàiguó cài bǐ Yīngguó cài hàochī tài duō le)! = Thai food is much more delicious than British food.

我的钱比你多多了 (wǒ de qián bǐ nǐ duō duōl e)。= I have much more money than you. (The first "多" means "more", the second "多了" is "too much".)

We hope this gives you an idea of how to correctly use "much" or "too much" in Chinese. Please comment below if 你有太多的问题 (nǐ yǒu tài duō de wèntí)!

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2016-06-21

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