In Mandarin, the markers 更[gèng](even more) and 最[zuì](most) are both used in comparisons, and they may seem quite similar. The difference is that 更[gèng] is used to form a comparative ("even bigger," "even better," "even more") while 最[zuì] is used to form a superlative ("the biggest," "the best," "the most")
Both of these markers are used before and some to form a comparative or superlative. The chart below illustrates the kinds of sentences where you'll use each marker.
更[gèng] | comparative | My hair is much longer. His Chinese is much better. |
最[zuì] | superlative | He is one of the best students in the class. She loves to sing the most. |
Luckily, in Mandarin all of these comparatives and superlatives are — meaning that, there are no words with unpredictable forms like “better” or “best”! Because there is no distinction between adjectives and in Mandarin, you won't need to learn different comparative or superlative patterns for each!
Keep on reading and you will find how easy comparatives and superlatives are in Mandarin Chinese!
In Mandarin Chinese, we use 更 [gèng] to form comparatives expressing "more than more." So if you want to say that something is "even better" or "even more impressive" or that someone drove "even farther" you'll want to form your comparison with 更 [gèng]. You might hear this called a "higher degree" comparative.
Comparatives are used to express to make a comparison between a pair: two people, two things, two actions, etc. Most often, you'll be making a comparison between two nouns, so you'll need a comparative adjective like "taller," "more interesting" or "better." However, in Mandarin, we can also form comparatives from state verbs “like,” “love,” “want,” or “need,” which describe ideas connected to our minds and thoughts.
Let's talk first about comparative adjectives, then turn to this second case.
To form a comparative adjective with 更 [gèng], simply place 更 before an adjective. Simple!
You'll mostly use these in affirmative sentences. If you have read our post on 比 (bǐ, than), you know that we use 比 (bǐ) between the two entities that you want to compare. We can add 更 (gèng) to indicate the meaning of “even more…” This is the basic pattern:
A
比
bǐ
than
B
更
gèng
even more
Adjective
我弟弟比我更高。
Wǒ dìdi bǐ wǒ gèng gāo.
My younger brother is even taller than me.
这里的夏天比北京的夏天更热。
Zhèli de xiàtiān bǐ běijīng de xiàtiān gèng rè.
The summer here is even hotter than the summer in Beijing.
清华大学比复旦大学更有名。
Qīnghuá dàxué bǐ fùdàn dàxué gèng yǒumíng.
Qinghua University is more famous than Fudan University.
Remember that you should only include 更[gèng] in a comparative sentence when you want to say that one thing has "much more" of a quality than another. If you just want to use a normal "more" you don't need a marker there at all. Compare:
我弟弟比我高。
Wǒ dìdi bǐ wǒ gāo.
My younger brother is taller than me.
我弟弟比我更高。
Wǒ dìdi bǐ wǒ gèng gāo.
My younger brother is much taller than me.
In this pattern, sometimes we can omit the second person/object in a context where it is easily understood to simply indicate that someone or something is much more something.
If the context makes it clear what you're comparing something to, you may omit 比[bǐ] and the second item from the comparison:
我弟弟更高。
Wǒ dìdi gèng gāo.
My younger brother is even taller.
这里的夏天更高。
Zhèli de xiàtiān gèng gāo.
The summer here is even hotter.
Use 更 (gèng) before state (also called “mental") verbs when making comparisons. State verbs are verbs that describe ideas connected to our minds and thoughts. Some state verbs in Mandarin are 喜欢 (xǐhuan, to like), 爱 (ài, to love), 想 (xiǎng, to want), 需要 (xūyào, to need)), etc. When they are used with comparatives, we add 更 (gèng) before these state verbs.
subject + 更 (gèng) + state verb + other elements
你更喜欢猫还是狗？
(Nǐ gèng xǐhuan māo háishì gǒu?)
Do you like cats more or dogs more?
你不知道这件事，那我更不知道了。
(Nǐ bù zhīdào zhèjiàn shì, nà wǒ gèng bù zhīdào le.)
You don't know about this matter, so I don’t know much more about it.
我怕几何学，我更怕微积分。
(Wǒ pà jǐhéxué, wǒ gèng pà wēijīfēn.)
I fear geometry, and I fear calculus more.
Please note that only the state verbs mentioned above can go with 更 (gèng). Action verbs, like “to run,” “to watch,” etc., cannot be modified by 更 (gèng) and you need to use the with an action verb if you insert a state verb between the Chinese word 更 (gèng) and the action verb. In order to form the sentence “They want to watch this movie more than that one,” we need to say it like this in Mandarin:
subject + 更 (gèng) + state verb + action verb + other elements
✓ 他们更想看这部电影。
(Tāmen gèng xiǎng kàn zhèbù diànyǐng.)
They want to watch this movie more.
✗他们更看这部电影。
(Tāmen gèng kàn zhèbù diànyǐng.)
They watch this movie more.
(A state verb is missing, so 更 (gèng) cannot be used.)
In the examples above, the action verb is 看 (kàn, to watch). Since action verbs cannot be modified by 更 (gèng), we need to insert a state verb. 想 (xiǎng, to want) is the state verb in the first example — between 更 (gèng) and the action verb.
Let’s look at some more examples:
✓ 你们更喜欢吃这道菜还是那道菜？
(Nǐmen gèng xǐhuan chī zhè dào cài háishì nà dào cài?)
Do you like to eat this dish more or that dish?
✗ 你们更吃这道菜还是那道菜？
(Nǐmen gèng chī zhè dào cài háishì nà dào cài?)
Do you eat this dish more or that dish?
(A state verb is missing!)
For action verbs the 比 comparison structure should be used. Τhe pattern is shown below:
A + 比 (bǐ) + verb (e.g. "run") / adjective (e.g. "red") / adverb (e.g. "quickly") ...
他比我跑得快。
(Tā bǐ wǒ pǎo de kuài.)
He runs faster than me.
Of course, we can add 更 (gèng) to express a higher level. How do we say, “He runs much faster than me” in Mandarin Chinese? The correct answer is:
他比我跑得更快。
(Tā bǐ wǒ pǎo de gèng kuài. )
He runs much faster than me.
Please pay attention here to the fact that 更 (gèng) is used to modify the adverb 快 (kuài, fast) and it is not used to modify the action verb 跑 (pǎo, to run)
Superlatives are used to indicate how one person or an object, etc. is different from all the others of the same kind. The same as with comparatives, most of the time an adjective is used as a superlative (“tallest,” “smallest,” “best,” etc.). Sometimes, superlatives can also work with state verbs, which describe ideas connected to our minds and thoughts, just as we discussed above.
To form Mandarin Chinese superlatives, add 最 (zuì) before any adjective. Unlike how there is in English, there is no need to make changes to the adjective in Mandarin.
在中国哪所大学最有名？
(Zài zhōngguó nǎsuǒ dàxué zuì yǒumíng?)
In China, which university is the most famous?
中餐最好吃。
(Zhōngcān zuì hǎochī.)
Chinese food is the most delicious.
你们班谁的成绩最好？
(Nǐmen bān shuíde chéngjì zuì hǎo?)
Who has the best grades in your class?
The Mandarin phrase 最好 (zuì hǎo) can be a superlative form meaning “the best.” It can also mean “would better” when giving suggestions. When it is used in giving suggestions, a verb follows after 最好 (zuì hǎo). For example:
Superlative
哪家宾馆最好？
(Nǎjiā bīnguǎn zuì hǎo?)
Which inn is the best?
Suggestion
第一天上班你最好别迟到。
(Dìyītiān shàngbān nǐ zuìhǎo bié chídào.)
You’d better not be late for your first day of work.
State verbs can also be used after the superlative marker 最 (zuì). Sometimes you will see there is a 了 (le) added to the end of an assertive or declarative sentence (statement form), simply in order to express an excessive amount or degree of something. However, 了 (le) is optional.
我最爱看爱情片(了)。
(Wǒ zuì ài kàn àiqíng piàn (le).)
I love to watch romantic movies the most.
谁最怕蜘蛛(了)？
(Shuí zuì pà zhīzhū (le)?)
Who fears spiders the most?
姐姐最了解我(了)。
(Jiějie zuì liǎojiě wǒ (le).)
My older sister knows me the best.
你最不喜欢红茶(了), 对吧？
(Nǐ zuì bù xǐhuan hóngchá (le), duì ba?)
You dislike black tea the most, right?
In Mandarin, simply adding the comparative marker 更 (gèng) or the superlative marker 最 (zuì) before an adjective or a state verb will form a comparative or a superlative.
A (+ 比 + B) + 更 (gèng) + adjective
这件衣服(比那件衣服)更好看。
(Zhèjiàn yīfu (bǐ nàjiàn yīfu) gèng hǎokàn.)
This piece of clothes is prettier (than that one).
State verbs with 更 (gèng)
我更需要你的帮助。
(Wǒ gèng xūyào nǐde bāngzhù.)
I need your help much more.
Superlative adjectives with 最 (zuì)
谁的汉语最好？
(Shuí de hànyǔ zuì hǎo?)
Whose Chinese is the best?
State verbs with 最 (zuì)
我最喜欢蓝色(了)。
(Wǒ zuì xǐhuan lánsè (le).)
I like blue the best.
Are you ready to try these exercises to practice using 更 (gèng) and 最 (zuì) in Mandarin Chinese? You will find how easy comparatives and superlatives are!
