每日中文 Daily ZhongWen

10 Grammar Points of the function word 太 (tài - too, so...)

HSK Grammar Points > 太
In Chinese, function words (虚词) serve grammatical functions, and have to be used with other words to form meaningful sentences.
Function words includes Adverb (副词), Preposition (介词), Conjunction (连词), Particle (助词), Interjection (感叹词), and Onomatopoeia (拟声词).
太 adds a stroke (、) to the character 大 to indicate the highest degree of "big". As a Degree Adverb(程度副词), 太 can be used to modify Adjectives(形容词), Verbs(动词) or other Adverbs(副词).
In context, 太 can be used to emphasize a negative meaning, or to express exclamation.
  1. too + Adj.
    【太 + Adj.+了】
    太 can be used before an adjective to emphasize a negative meaning.
    • Shǔjià guò de tài kuàile.
      暑假过得太快了。
      The summer break passed too fast. 13632
      Wǒ tài pàngle.
      我太胖了。
      I'm too fat. 13633
  2. so + Adj.
    【太 + Adj.+了】
    太 is used to add emphasis to an adjective, and 了 is often added at the end of the sentence.
    • Zhè fángzi tài piàoliangle!
      这房子太漂亮了！
      The house is so beautiful. 13634
      Wǒ tài lèile!
      我太累了！
      I am so tired! 13635
  3. Verb + so much/too well
    【太 + Verb + Object】
    As an adverb, 太 can present the meaning of the verb "to a great degree".
    • Wǒ tài xǐhuān zhè bù diànyǐngle!
      我太喜欢这部电影了！
      I love this movie so much! 13643
      Wǒ tài liǎojiě zhè zhǒng rénle.
      我太了解这种人了。
      I know such people too well. 13653
  4. too much/too many + Noun
    【太多(的) + Noun】
    太多(的) is used before a noun to express "a large amount".
    • Wǒ làngfèile tài duō de shíjiān wán yóuxì.
      我浪费了太多的时间玩游戏。
      I've wasted too much time playing games. 13655
      Wǒ bùxiǎng wèn tài duō de wèntí.
      我不想问太多的问题。
      I don't want to ask too many questions. 13656
  5. overly | over-
    【太 + Adj.】
    The word '太' is used as an adverb to modify adjectives.
    • Bié chī de tài bǎole.
      别吃得太饱了。
      Don't overeat. 13639
      Bù yāo mǎi tài guì de dōngxī.
      不要买太贵的东西。
      Don't buy overly expensive things. 13647
  6. not very + Adj.
    【不太 + Adj.】
    不太 is used to weaken the degree of negation, meaning "not very".
    • Wǒ bù tài è.
      我不太饿。
      I'm not very hungry. 13641
      “Nǐ lèile ma?” “Bù, bù tài lèi.”
      “你累了吗?” “不，不太累。”
      "Are you tired?" "No, not very." 13650
  7. really | not really
    【太 + Adj./Verb】【不太 + Adj./Verb】
    太 is used as an adverb to modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.
    • Zhège fángjiān lǐ tài rèle.
      这个房间里太热了。
      This room is really hot. 13645
      "Nǐ xǐhuān tā ma?" "Bù tài xǐhuān."
      "你喜欢它吗？" "不太喜欢。"
      "Did you like it? Not really." 13646
  8. go too far
    【太过分 = go too far】
    太过分 means "to behave in a way that upsets or annoys people".
    • Wǒ juédé zhège wánxiào tài guòfènle.
      我觉得这个玩笑太过分了。
      I think this joke went too far. 13649
  9. too ridiculous
    【太不像话 = too ridiculous】
    太不像话 can be said when someone or something goes further than the limit of what is acceptable.
    • Tài bù xiànghuàle! Wǒ shòu bùliǎo zhèyàng de xíngwéi.
      太不像话了！我受不了这样的行为。
      It's too ridiculous! I can't stand such behavior. 13642
  10. 太不 vs. 不太
    【太不 + Verb】【不太 + Verb】
    太不 is to emphasize the negation, and 不太 is to weaken the negation.
    • Tā tài bù liǎojiě shíjì qíngkuàng.
      他太不了解实际情况。
      He was too ignorant of the actual situation. 13651
      Tā bù tài liǎojiě shíjì qíngkuàng.
      他不太了解实际情况。
      He didn't know much about the actual situation. 13652



Posted by