2 · 40 words

Everyday adjectives in Chinese

Clean and dirty, easy and hard, quiet and noisy, heavy and light.

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 like a verb: 房间(fángjiān)很(hěn)干净(gānjìng), “the room is clean”, needs no word for “is”. Without 很(hěn) or another adverb, a bare adjective sounds like a comparison — 这个(zhège)贵(guì) means this one is the dearer one. Several words here are built from 有(yǒu) or 没(méi) and a noun, like 有意思(yǒuyìsi) and 没意思(méiyìsi).

The words

Adjective (39)

干净(gānjìng)cleanAdjective2

房间(fángjiān)打扫(dǎsǎo)得(de)很(hěn)干净(gānjìng)。The room has been cleaned really well.

脏(zāng)dirtyAdjective2

你(nǐ)的(de)手(shǒu)太(tài)脏(zāng)了(le)，快(kuài)去(qù)洗手(xǐshǒu)。Your hands are filthy — go and wash them.

舒服(shūfu)comfortable; feeling wellAdjective2

这(zhè)双(shuāng)鞋(xié)穿(chuān)着(zhe)很(hěn)舒服(shūfu)。These shoes are very comfortable.

Also about the body: 我(wǒ)不(bù)舒服(shūfu), I don’t feel well.

方便(fāngbiàn)convenientAdjective2

住(zhù)在(zài)这儿(zhèr)买(mǎi)东西(dōngxi)很(hěn)方便(fāngbiàn)。Living here, shopping is very convenient.

你(nǐ)现在(xiànzài)方便(fāngbiàn)吗(ma)？ — is now a good time for you?

安静(ānjìng)quiet, calmAdjective2

图书馆(túshūguǎn)里(lǐ)要(yào)安静(ānjìng)。You have to be quiet in the library.

吵(chǎo)noisyAdjective2

这(zhè)条(tiáo)街(jiē)晚上(wǎnshang)很(hěn)吵(chǎo)。This street is very noisy at night.

热闹(rènao)lively, bustlingAdjective2

春节(Chūnjié)的(de)时候(shíhou)街上(jiēshang)很(hěn)热闹(rènao)。At Spring Festival the streets are full of life.

Busy and noisy in a good way; 吵(chǎo) is the unpleasant side.

容易(róngyì)easyAdjective2

这个(zhège)字(zì)很(hěn)容易(róngyì)写(xiě)。This character is easy to write.

难(nán)difficult, hardAdjective2

汉字(Hànzì)难不难(nánbunán)？Are Chinese characters hard?

重要(zhòngyào)importantAdjective2

这(zhè)件(jiàn)事(shì)非常(fēicháng)重要(zhòngyào)。This matter is extremely important.

主要(zhǔyào)main; mainlyAdjective2

我(wǒ)来(lái)北京(Běijīng)主要(zhǔyào)是(shì)为了(wèile)学(xué)汉语(Hànyǔ)。I came to Beijing mainly to learn Chinese.

有意思(yǒuyìsi)interesting; funAdjective2

这(zhè)本(běn)书(shū)很(hěn)有意思(yǒuyìsi)。This book is very interesting.

没意思(méiyìsi)boring, dullAdjective2

这个(zhège)电影(diànyǐng)真(zhēn)没意思(méiyìsi)。This film is really boring.

有名(yǒumíng)famous, well knownAdjective2

这(zhè)家(jiā)饭馆(fànguǎn)很(hěn)有名(yǒumíng)。This restaurant is very well known.

简单(jiǎndān)simpleAdjective2

这(zhè)道(dào)题(tí)很(hěn)简单(jiǎndān)。This question is very simple.

一样(yíyàng)the sameAdjective2

我(wǒ)和(hé)哥哥(gēge)一样(yíyàng)高(gāo)。My brother and I are the same height.

Comparing: 跟(gēn) … 一样(yíyàng), the same as ….

不同(bùtóng)differentAdjective2

每(měi)个(ge)人(rén)的(de)习惯(xíguàn)都(dōu)不同(bùtóng)。Everybody’s habits are different.

In speech often 不(bù)一样(yíyàng).

清楚(qīngchu)clearAdjective2

你(nǐ)说(shuō)得(de)很(hěn)清楚(qīngchu)。You explained that very clearly.

Also “to know for sure”: 我(wǒ)不(bù)清楚(qīngchu), I’m not sure.

好用(hǎoyòng)easy to use, handyAdjective2

这个(zhège)手机(shǒujī)很(hěn)好用(hǎoyòng)，老人(lǎorén)也(yě)会(huì)用(yòng)。This phone is easy to use; even older people can manage it.

丑(chǒu)uglyAdjective2

我(wǒ)的(de)字(zì)写(xiě)得(de)很(hěn)丑(chǒu)。My handwriting is really ugly.

棒(bàng)great, excellentAdjective2

你(nǐ)的(de)汉语(Hànyǔ)真(zhēn)棒(bàng)！Your Chinese is great!

厉害(lìhai)impressive; severeAdjective2

她(tā)会(huì)说(shuō)五(wǔ)种(zhǒng)语言(yǔyán)，真(zhēn)厉害(lìhai)！She speaks five languages — that’s impressive!

Also for something bad that is strong: 疼(téng)得(de)很(hěn)厉害(lìhai), it hurts badly.

软(ruǎn)softAdjective2

这个(zhège)枕头(zhěntou)很(hěn)软(ruǎn)。This pillow is very soft.

硬(yìng)hard, stiffAdjective2

这(zhè)张(zhāng)床(chuáng)太(tài)硬(yìng)了(le)，我(wǒ)睡不好(shuìbuhǎo)。This bed is too hard — I can’t sleep well.

厚(hòu)thickAdjective2

冬天(dōngtiān)要(yào)穿(chuān)厚(hòu)衣服(yīfu)。In winter you need to wear thick clothes.

薄(báo)thin (of things)Adjective2

这(zhè)本(běn)书(shū)很(hěn)薄(báo)，一(yì)天(tiān)就(jiù)能(néng)看完(kànwán)。This book is thin; you can finish it in a day.

Spoken báo; bó in written words.

满(mǎn)fullAdjective2

车(chē)上(shàng)坐满(zuòmǎn)了(le)人(rén)。The bus is full.

空(kōng)emptyAdjective2

冰箱(bīngxiāng)里(lǐ)是(shì)空(kōng)的(de)。The fridge is empty.

kōng “empty”; kòng “free time”, as in 有(yǒu)空(kòng).

破(pò)broken; torn, worn outAdjective2

我(wǒ)的(de)衣服(yīfu)破(pò)了(le)一(yí)个(ge)洞(dòng)。There’s a hole in my shirt.

有用(yǒuyòng)usefulAdjective2

这(zhè)本(běn)词典(cídiǎn)对(duì)我(wǒ)很(hěn)有用(yǒuyòng)。This dictionary is very useful to me.

够(gòu)enoughAdjective2

钱(qián)够不够(gòubugòu)？Is there enough money?

正确(zhèngquè)correct, rightAdjective2

你(nǐ)的(de)答案(dá'àn)是(shì)正确(zhèngquè)的(de)。Your answer is correct.

亮(liàng)brightAdjective2

这个(zhège)灯(dēng)太(tài)亮(liàng)了(le)。This lamp is too bright.

Also a verb, “to light up”: 灯(dēng)亮(liàng)了(le).

挤(jǐ)crowdedAdjective2

早上(zǎoshang)的(de)地铁(dìtiě)特别(tèbié)挤(jǐ)。The underground is really crowded in the mornings.

乱(luàn)messy, untidyAdjective2

你(nǐ)的(de)桌子(zhuōzi)怎么(zěnme)这么(zhème)乱(luàn)？Why is your desk such a mess?

臭(chòu)smelly, stinkingAdjective2

垃圾(lājī)太(tài)臭(chòu)了(le)，快(kuài)扔(rēng)了(le)吧(ba)。The rubbish stinks — throw it out.

整齐(zhěngqí)tidy, neatAdjective2

他(tā)的(de)房间(fángjiān)总是(zǒngshì)很(hěn)整齐(zhěngqí)。His room is always tidy.

急(jí)urgent; in a hurry; impatientAdjective2

别(bié)急(jí)，慢慢(mànmàn)说(shuō)。Don’t rush — take your time and tell me.

Being worried and impatient about something is 着急(zháojí).

麻烦(máfan)troublesome; to troubleAdjective2

办(bàn)签证(qiānzhèng)很(hěn)麻烦(máfan)。Getting a visa is a lot of hassle.

Also a polite request: 麻烦(máfan)你(nǐ)了(le), sorry to trouble you.

Adverb (1)

差不多(chàbuduō)almost; about the sameAdverb2

饭(fàn)差不多(chàbuduō)好(hǎo)了(le)。The food is almost ready.

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