How to use “最” in Chinese

The most common way to form a superlative (best, worst, biggest, smallest, etc.) in Chinese is to use 最 (zuì) before an adjective.

中文里最常见的最高级（如best, worst, biggest, smallest等）组合方式是在形容词前使用"最"字。

最 with Adjectives

最 + Adj.

And now you have the superlative form of the adjective. Unlike in English, this structure is consistent for all adjectives in Chinese. The inconsistencies in English sometimes confuse beginners, so note in the examples below how to say "best," "worst," "least," and "most".

现在你就有了形容词的最高级形式了。和英语不同的是，这个结构对于中文里的所有形容词都是通用的。英语里的不规则变化有时会使初学者感到困惑，留意以下例子里是如何说"best"、"worst"、"least"和"most"的。

Examples

哪个老师最好？

nǎ ge lǎshī zuìhǎo?

Which teacher is the best?

你们家谁最漂亮？

nīmen jiā shéi zuì piàoliang?

In your family who is the most beautiful?

汉语最难。

hànyǔ zuì nán.

The Chinese language is the most difficult.

这种事最麻烦。

zhè zhǒng shì zuì máfan.

These kind of things are the most troublesome.

Optional 了

Occasionally you'll also see a 了 (le) added after the adjective. This simply adds emphasis to the "-est."

有时你也会看到形容词后面加上"了"字，这只是用于在"-est"上加了强调而已。

最 + Adj. (+ 了)

Examples

小狗最可爱了。

xiǎogǒu zuì kěài le.

The puppy is the cutest.

四川菜最辣了。

sìchuān cài zuì là le.

Sichuan food is the spiciest.

我的中国朋友最热情了。

wǒ de zhōngguó péngyou zuì rèqíng le.

My Chinese friend is the most enthusiastic.

他的学生最认真了。

tā de xuéshēng zuì rènzhēn le.

His student is the most serious.

黄山的风景最美了。

huángshān de fēngjǐng zuì měi le.

Huang Mountain's landscape is the most beautiful.

最 with Psychological Verbs

最 (zuì) can also come before psychological verbs, to express what one "most likes," "most hates," etc. It won't make sense if you try to use 最 (zuì) with non-psychological verbs, though.

"最"也可以出现在心理动词之前，表示什么最喜欢、什么最讨厌等等。不过， "最"与非心理动词搭配是行不通的。

最 + [Psychological Verb] + Obj. (+ 了)

Examples

老板最喜欢你了！

lǎobǎn zuì xǐhuan nǐ le!

The boss likes you the best!

你最怕什么？

nǐ zuì pà shénme?

What do you most fear?

我最想去的地方是西班牙。

wǒ zuì xiǎng qù de dìfang shì xībānyá.

The place I most want to go is Spain.

谁最了解你？

shuí zuì liǎojiě nǐ?

Who most knows you?

她最讨厌抽烟的男人了。

tā zuì tǎo yàn chōuyān de nánrén le.

She most hates men that smoke.

Translated from: allsetlearning

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