Safe and dangerous, normal and strange, familiar, formal, and the shape and feel of things.
Practise this list
From these 40 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list
A Chinese adjective works as a verb by itself: 这条路很宽 needs no “is”. The 很 in that sentence mostly rounds it off and does not mean “very” unless it is stressed; without it a bare adjective sounds like a comparison. Several adjectives here come in pairs worth learning together — 宽 and 窄, 粗 and 细, 明亮 and 暗.
The words
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Adjective (40)
安全safe; safetyAdjective3
这个小区晚上也很安全。This neighbourhood is safe even at night.
危险dangerous; dangerAdjective3
在河边玩很危险，快回来！It is dangerous to play by the river — come back at once!
正常normalAdjective3
医生说检查结果都正常。The doctor said all the test results were normal.
特别special; unusual; especiallyAdjective3
她的声音很特别，一听就知道是她。Her voice is very distinctive; you know it is her the moment you hear it.
Before an adjective it means “especially”: 特别好.
严重serious; severeAdjective3
他的感冒越来越严重了。His cold is getting worse and worse.
奇怪strange; oddAdjective3
真奇怪，他今天怎么没来？How strange — why has he not come today?
普通ordinary; commonAdjective3
我只是一个普通的上班族。I am just an ordinary office worker.
新鲜freshAdjective3
这些鱼是早上刚买的，很新鲜。This fish was only bought this morning; it is very fresh.
Also of air, and of anything new: 新鲜空气.
流利fluentAdjective3
她在中国住了五年，中文说得很流利。She lived in China for five years and speaks fluent Chinese.
合适suitable; the right (size, time)Adjective3
这双鞋大小正合适。These shoes are exactly the right size.
An adjective; the verb “to suit” is 适合.
必要necessary; needAdjective3
没有必要为这点儿小事生气。There is no need to get angry over such a small thing.
准确accurate; exactAdjective3
天气预报不一定准确。The weather forecast is not always accurate.
仔细careful; thoroughAdjective3
签字以前请仔细看一下。Please read it carefully before you sign.
可怕frightening; terribleAdjective3
昨天晚上我做了一个可怕的梦。Last night I had a frightening dream.
真实true; real; authenticAdjective3
这部电影讲的是一个真实的故事。This film tells a true story.
明亮bright; well-litAdjective3
新教室又大又明亮。The new classroom is big and bright.
唯一only; soleAdjective3
他是我们班唯一会说日语的人。He is the only person in our class who can speak Japanese.
真正real; true; genuineAdjective3
真正的朋友在你困难的时候会帮你。A true friend helps you when things are hard.
Only before a noun or a verb, never at the end of a sentence.
实际realistic; practical; actual; realityAdjective3
这个计划不太实际。This plan is not very realistic.
相同the same; identicalAdjective3
这两个字读音相同，意思不同。These two characters sound the same but mean different things.
More written than 一样.
顺利smooth; without a hitchAdjective3
今天的面试很顺利。Today’s interview went smoothly.
As a wish: 一切顺利, “all the best”.
宽wide; broadAdjective3
新修的马路又宽又直。The newly built road is wide and straight.
窄narrowAdjective3
这条胡同太窄了，只能骑自行车。This alley is too narrow; you can only get down it by bike.
尖pointed; sharp (at the tip)Adjective3
小心，这把刀很尖。Careful, this knife has a very sharp point.
Sharp at the tip; a sharp blade is 快.
结实sturdy; solid; strongly builtAdjective3
这个箱子很结实，用了十年还没坏。This suitcase is very sturdy; I have used it for ten years and it is still not broken.
Also of a person: strong and solidly built. 结 is read jiē here.
粗thick (of something long); coarseAdjective3
这支笔太粗了，写小字不方便。This pen is too thick to write small characters with.
Thick like a rope or a branch; thick like a book is 厚.
