4 · 40 words

Adjectives for describing and judging

The adjectives that say how detailed, stable, reliable or obvious something is.

These adjectives describe plans, information, situations and work rather than people and the weather. Many come in pairs worth learning together: 积极(jījí) and 消极(xiāojí), 模糊(móhu) and 清晰(qīngxī), 具体(jùtǐ) and 抽象(chōuxiàng). Like all Chinese adjectives they need no “to be”: on their own they usually take 很(hěn) (情况(qíngkuàng)很(hěn)复杂(fùzá)), and before a noun they take 的(de).

The words

Adjective (40)

积极(jījí)positive; active; keenAdjective4

他(tā)上课(shàngkè)的(de)时候(shíhou)总是(zǒngshì)积极(jījí)回答(huídá)问题(wèntí)。He always answers questions keenly in class.

Of attitude, effort and effects; a positive test result is 阳性(yángxìng).

消极(xiāojí)negative; passiveAdjective4

别(bié)总是(zǒngshì)用(yòng)消极(xiāojí)的(de)态度(tàidu)看(kàn)问题(wèntí)。Don't always look at things so negatively.

明显(míngxiǎn)obvious; clear; noticeableAdjective4

她(tā)最近(zuìjìn)明显(míngxiǎn)瘦(shòu)了(le)。She has clearly lost weight recently.

复杂(fùzá)complicated; complexAdjective3

这个(zhège)问题(wèntí)比(bǐ)我(wǒ)想(xiǎng)的(de)复杂(fùzá)得(de)多(duō)。This problem is much more complicated than I thought.

详细(xiángxì)detailedAdjective4

请(qǐng)你(nǐ)详细(xiángxì)地(de)说(shuō)一下(yíxià)事情(shìqing)的(de)经过(jīngguò)。Please tell me in detail what happened.

稳定(wěndìng)stable; steadyAdjective4

他(tā)想(xiǎng)找(zhǎo)一(yí)份(fèn)收入(shōurù)稳定(wěndìng)的(de)工作(gōngzuò)。He wants to find a job with a steady income.

激烈(jīliè)fierce; intense (competition, debate)Adjective4

今天(jīntiān)的(de)比赛(bǐsài)非常(fēicháng)激烈(jīliè)。Today's match was very hard-fought.

广泛(guǎngfàn)wide-ranging; widespreadAdjective4

他(tā)的(de)兴趣(xìngqù)很(hěn)广泛(guǎngfàn)。He has a wide range of interests.

丰富(fēngfù)rich; abundant; variedAdjective4

这(zhè)位(wèi)老师(lǎoshī)的(de)经验(jīngyàn)非常(fēicháng)丰富(fēngfù)。This teacher has a wealth of experience.

深刻(shēnkè)deep; profoundAdjective4

这(zhè)次(cì)旅行(lǚxíng)给(gěi)我(wǒ)留下(liúxià)了(le)深刻(shēnkè)的(de)印象(yìnxiàng)。This trip made a deep impression on me.

具体(jùtǐ)concrete; specificAdjective4

你(nǐ)能(néng)说(shuō)得(de)具体(jùtǐ)一点儿(yìdiǎnr)吗(ma)？Could you be a little more specific?

抽象(chōuxiàng)abstractAdjective4

这(zhè)幅(fú)画(huà)太(tài)抽象(chōuxiàng)了(le)，我(wǒ)完全(wánquán)不(bù)明白(míngbai)。This painting is too abstract; I don't understand it at all.

基本(jīběn)basic; fundamentalAdjective4

这(zhè)是(shì)做(zuò)菜(cài)最(zuì)基本(jīběn)的(de)方法(fāngfǎ)。This is the most basic cooking method.

普遍(pǔbiàn)common; widespread; generalAdjective4

在(zài)大(dà)城市(chéngshì)，用(yòng)手机(shǒujī)付钱(fùqián)已经(yǐjīng)很(hěn)普遍(pǔbiàn)了(le)。In big cities, paying by phone has become very common.

直接(zhíjiē)direct; straightforwardAdjective4

有(yǒu)问题(wèntí)可以(kěyǐ)直接(zhíjiē)找(zhǎo)经理(jīnglǐ)。If you have a problem, you can go straight to the manager.

Of people also blunt, outspoken.

灵活(línghuó)flexible; nimbleAdjective4

这(zhè)份(fèn)工作(gōngzuò)的(de)时间(shíjiān)很(hěn)灵活(línghuó)。The hours in this job are very flexible.

间接(jiànjiē)indirectAdjective4

这(zhè)件(jiàn)事(shì)我(wǒ)是(shì)间接(jiànjiē)听说(tīngshuō)的(de)。I heard about this second-hand.

完整(wánzhěng)complete; intactAdjective4

这(zhè)套(tào)书(shū)一(yì)本(běn)都(dōu)不(bù)少(shǎo)，非常(fēicháng)完整(wánzhěng)。Not one volume is missing; the set is complete.

完美(wánměi)perfectAdjective4

没有(méiyǒu)人(rén)是(shì)完美(wánměi)的(de)。Nobody is perfect.

全面(quánmiàn)comprehensive; all-roundAdjective4

看(kàn)问题(wèntí)要(yào)全面(quánmiàn)，不(bù)能(néng)只(zhǐ)看(kàn)一(yí)个(ge)方面(fāngmiàn)。Look at a problem from every side, not just from one.

有效(yǒuxiào)effective; validAdjective4

你(nǐ)的(de)护照(hùzhào)还(hái)有效(yǒuxiào)吗(ma)？Is your passport still valid?

片面(piànmiàn)one-sided; partialAdjective4

只(zhǐ)听(tīng)一(yí)个(ge)人(rén)的(de)话(huà)，难免(nánmiǎn)会(huì)片面(piànmiàn)。If you only listen to one person, you are bound to get a one-sided view.

充分(chōngfèn)full; ample; thoroughAdjective4

考试(kǎoshì)前(qián)他(tā)做(zuò)了(le)充分(chōngfèn)的(de)准备(zhǔnbèi)。He prepared thoroughly before the exam.

强烈(qiángliè)strong; intenseAdjective4

这里(zhèlǐ)夏天(xiàtiān)的(de)阳光(yángguāng)非常(fēicháng)强烈(qiángliè)。The sunlight here in summer is very strong.

紧急(jǐnjí)urgent; emergencyAdjective4

有(yǒu)紧急(jǐnjí)情况(qíngkuàng)请(qǐng)打(dǎ)这个(zhège)电话(diànhuà)。In an emergency, please call this number.

临时(línshí)temporary; at short noticeAdjective4

他(tā)找(zhǎo)了(le)一(yí)份(fèn)临时(línshí)工作(gōngzuò)。He found a temporary job.

宝贵(bǎoguì)valuable; preciousAdjective4

谢谢(xièxie)你(nǐ)的(de)宝贵(bǎoguì)意见(yìjiàn)。Thank you for your valuable advice.

For time, experience and advice; a treasured object is also 珍贵(zhēnguì).

突出(tūchū)outstanding; prominentAdjective4

他(tā)在(zài)工作(gōngzuò)中(zhōng)表现(biǎoxiàn)很(hěn)突出(tūchū)。His performance at work stands out.

适当(shìdàng)appropriate; suitable; moderateAdjective4

每天(měitiān)做(zuò)适当(shìdàng)的(de)运动(yùndòng)对(duì)身体(shēntǐ)有(yǒu)好处(hǎochu)。A moderate amount of exercise every day is good for you.

实用(shíyòng)practical; usefulAdjective4

这个(zhège)包(bāo)虽然(suīrán)不(bù)好看(hǎokàn)，但是(dànshì)很(hěn)实用(shíyòng)。This bag is not pretty, but it is very practical.

一致(yízhì)unanimous; consistentAdjective4

大家(dàjiā)的(de)意见(yìjiàn)很(hěn)一致(yízhì)。Everyone is of one mind.

相似(xiāngsì)similarAdjective4

这(zhè)两(liǎng)个(ge)字(zì)长(zhǎng)得(de)很(hěn)相似(xiāngsì)，容易(róngyì)写错(xiěcuò)。These two characters look very alike and are easy to mix up when writing.

More written than 像(xiàng).

密切(mìqiè)close; intimateAdjective4

这(zhè)两(liǎng)家(jiā)公司(gōngsī)一直(yìzhí)保持(bǎochí)着(zhe)密切(mìqiè)的(de)联系(liánxì)。The two companies have always kept in close contact.

平均(píngjūn)average; evenAdjective4

这个(zhège)班(bān)学生(xuésheng)的(de)平均(píngjūn)年龄(niánlíng)是(shì)二十(èrshí)岁(suì)。The average age of the students in this class is twenty.

陌生(mòshēng)unfamiliar; strangeAdjective4

孩子(háizi)不(bú)要(yào)跟(gēn)陌生人(mòshēngrén)走(zǒu)。Children should not go off with strangers.

模糊(móhu)blurred; vagueAdjective4

雨(yǔ)太(tài)大(dà)，窗外(chuāngwài)的(de)一切(yíqiè)都(dōu)很(hěn)模糊(móhu)。The rain is so heavy that everything outside the window is a blur.

清晰(qīngxī)clear; distinct; sharpAdjective4

新(xīn)手机(shǒujī)的(de)屏幕(píngmù)特别(tèbié)清晰(qīngxī)。The screen on the new phone is especially sharp.

透明(tòumíng)transparentAdjective4

这(zhè)家(jiā)店(diàn)的(de)价格(jiàgé)很(hěn)透明(tòumíng)，不(bú)会(huì)骗(piàn)人(rén)。This shop's prices are transparent; it won't cheat you.

先进(xiānjìn)advanced; up to dateAdjective4

这(zhè)家(jiā)医院(yīyuàn)的(de)设备(shèbèi)非常(fēicháng)先进(xiānjìn)。This hospital's equipment is very advanced.

生动(shēngdòng)vivid; livelyAdjective4

老师(lǎoshī)讲(jiǎng)课(kè)讲(jiǎng)得(de)很(hěn)生动(shēngdòng)。The teacher's lessons are very lively.

This list belongs to Basic words: numbers, time, verbs — 21 lists and 842 words that can also be practised as a whole.

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