Abstract

Some grammar guides suggest that Chinese does not have “adjectives” in the traditional sense; instead, words which describe properties of things or states of movement (known as 形容词) are categorised as “adjectival stative verbs”. This article will systematically compare how these “adjectives” or “adjectival stative verbs” are manipulated in various sentence patterns to evaluate which title is most fitting. It is concluded that, while there are similarities in usage with other stative verbs, a number of significant differences also exist meaning that the traditional categorisation of these words as “adjectives” is useful afterall.

Contents

Introduction

Different Interpretations

Examples of 形容词 and ‘Regular Stative Verbs’

Why are there two approaches to understanding 形容词?

Comparing 形容词 and Stative Verbs in Use

a) Using 很 and other Intensifier Adverbs

b) Making Questions with 吗 and the ‘Verb 不 Verb’ Pattern

c) 形容词 Can’t Take Objects

d) Modifying Noun Phrases with 的

e) Verb Aspect and Time

f) The 比 Pattern

g) Using 更 and 最

h) Reduplication Patterns

Summary

References and Further Reading

Introduction

In English, adjectives are words that describe the properties of things or people (e.g. ‘tall’, ‘blue’, ‘exciting’, ‘new’) or the states of movements or actions (e.g. ‘fast’, ‘steady’). An adjective can be used before a noun (e.g. ‘the big event’, ‘my clever cat’) or it can be used with the verb ‘to be’ (e.g. ‘the event was big’, ‘my cat is clever’). To show a comparison, some adjectives use the suffix ‘er’ (e.g. ‘taller’, ‘steadier’) while some adjectives use ‘more’ or ‘less’ (e.g. ‘more expensive’, ‘less remarkable’). To show a superlative, some adjectives use the suffix ‘est’ (e.g. ‘tallest’, steadiest’) while some adjectives use ‘most’ or ‘least’ (e.g. ‘most expensive’, ‘least remarkable’.)

Of course, Chinese differs significantly from English in its use of adjectives. The Chinese word for adjective is 形容词. 形容词 often use 的 to connect with a noun, and (in general) do not use 是 to link a subject. Chinese does not have suffixes to describe comparative and superlative 形容词, but instead uses 更 and 最 respectively. In addition, there are a number of sentence patterns to express comparisons (e.g. the 比 pattern) or to otherwise manipulate adjectives (e.g. the 越来越 pattern).

Different Interpretations

Many textbooks and grammar guides state that Chinese has adjectives like any other language, but concede that, of course, there are many differences in usage. For example, the New Practical Chinese Reader and Integrated Chinese textbook series both explain the various ways “adjectives” are manipulated. In most native Chinese grammar guides, adjectives are called 形容词, literally meaning ‘description words’.

However, other textbooks and grammar guides argue that Chinese does not have adjectives. 形容词, according to these approaches, are in fact a special kind of verb. Schaum’s Outlines Chinese Grammar states that there are three main types of verbs: Activity Verbs, Achievement Verbs and Stative Verbs. 形容词, according to this approach, are a sub-set of Stative Verbs called “adjectival stative verbs”. The Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar takes a similar approach, but give 形容词 the title “adjectival verbs”.

A learner of Chinese may wish to know the answers to the following questions: Why are there two different approaches to understanding 形容词? What are the implications of adopting each approach? Which definition of 形容词 – namely, ‘Adjective’ or ‘Adjectival (Stative) Verb’ – is most helpful for learners of Chinese?

Examples of 形容词 and ‘Regular Stative Verbs’

Let’s first compare examples of 形容词 and ‘Regular Stative Verbs’.

形容词 / Adjective / Adjectival Stative Verb Regular Stative Verb 好 good 大 big 贵 expensive 快 quick 简单 simple 舒服 comfortable 爱 to love 怕 to be afraid 懂 to understand 喜欢 to like 愿意 to be willing (to do something) 尊敬 to respect

Please note that both 形容词 and ‘Regular Stative Verb’ are usually made up of either one or two characters.

Why are there two approaches to understanding 形容词?

There are two main reasons why linguists prefer the term ‘Adjectival Stative Verb’ instead of ‘Adjective’ to describe 形容词. One reason is 形容词 can sometimes be used in a similar manner to Regular Stative Verbs, in a way that is not easily compared to the use of adjectives in English and many other languages. Another reason is that 形容词 do not need a copula verb (i.e. ‘to be’ in English or 是 in Chinese) to link the subject, although the verb 是 may be used with adjectives in some sentence patterns. These points will be elaborated on in more depth later.

Comparing 形容词 and Stative Verbs in Use



However, things get complex when we understand that 形容词 do not always function in the same way as Regular Stative Verbs. In fact, there are many instances when 形容词 and Regular Stative Verbs operate in completely different grammatical ways.

The two different approaches can be visualised in the following ways. According to the first approach, 形容词 are Adjectives that share some grammatical patterns with Regular Stative Verbs. According to the second approach, 形容词 are a special kind of Stative Verb, although there are patterns where they operate differently from Regular Stative Verbs.

Of course, both approaches are merely differing categorisations of the same grammatical phenomena. It seems to me that deciding which approach is most useful for learners of Chinese depends on whether differences between 形容词 and Regular Stative Verbs are emphasised (the first approach) or whether the similarities between 形容词 and Regular Stative Verbs are emphasised (the second approach.)

Let’s compare 形容词 and Regular Stative Verbs to evaluate which approach is best.

a) Using 很 and other Intensifier Adverbs

Beginner learners are taught that one major distinction between English and Chinese is that there doesn’t need to be a copula verb (i.e. ‘to be’ in English or 是 in Chinese) to link a 形容词 to a subject. Instead, the adverb 很 is usually used. Although 很 is sometimes translated as “very”, this is unnecessary as the primary function of 很 in this sentence is grammatical (i.e. as a linking word between the subject and adjective.) In a negative sentence, 很 is not used and the negating word 不 goes in its place.

他很高。

He is tall.

我朋友不开心。

My friend isn’t happy.

很 can also be used with Regular Stative Verbs. However, in this sentence, 很 is not necessary in a grammatical sense. Therefore, 很 can be translated as “really”. In the negative sentence, 不 is used to negate the Stative Verb, but unlike with 形容词, the Stative Verb can retain the adverb 很.

他愿意搬到北京上班。

He’s willing to move to Beijing for work.

他很愿意搬到北京上班。

He’s really willing to move to Beijing for work.

他不愿意搬到北京上班。

He’s not willing to move to Beijing for work.

他很不愿意搬到北京上班。

He’s really not willing to move to Beijing for work.

In spoken Chinese, 好 can be used in place of 很 before 形容词. This colloquial expression is very common, although it is more informal and used less often for serious topics. Often 好 is used with words that have a positive, or at least neutral meaning. Using 好 in this way is less commonly seen with Regular Stative Verbs; in most cases 很 is preferred.

好开心！

I’m happy!

我很喜欢那部电影。

I really liked that movie.

From the table below we can see that uses of 形容词 are more limited than Regular Stative Verbs in respect to the adverb 很.

形容词 example: 高 Regular Stative Verb: 喜欢 Without 很 -* 他喜欢。 He likes it. Using 很 他很高。 He’s tall. 他很喜欢。 He really likes it. Using 不 他不高。 He isn’t tall. 他不喜欢。 He doesn’t like it. Using 不 and 很 – 他很不喜欢。 He really doesn’t like it.

*Note that while the sentence 他高 is also grammatically correct, I have omitted it from this table since its meaning derivies from the comparison sentence using 比 (see ‘The 比 Pattern’ below.)

Whilst 很 is arguably the default modifier for 形容词, other adverbs describing intensity can be used. For example, 太，非常，特别，真，挺 and 比较 are more commonly used in spoken Chinese while 极其，尤其 and 相当 are used in more formal language. Notice that the English translation of the adverbs in these examples may be very different for 形容词 and Regular Stative Verbs.

形容词 example: 高 Regular Stative Verb: 喜欢 Using 特别 他特别高。 He’s especially tall. 他特别喜欢。 He particularly likes it. Using 比较 他比较高。 He’s relatively tall. 他比较喜欢。 He likes it to some extent.

Things start to get more difficult when negation is involved. Different intensity adverbs have different word orders when negating 形容词 or Regular Stative Verbs. Notice, for instance, that 不 is usually placed before other adverbs except when 不 is placed after the adverb 真. Also, some adverbs sounds peculiar when negated (e.g. 比较).

Adverb + 形容词 Negated Adverb + 形容词 Adverb + Regular Stative Verb Negated Adverb + Regular Stative Verb 非常 他非常胖。 He’s extremely fat. 他非常不高。 He’s really not fat at all. ( 他非常矮 is more commonly used). 她非常爱我。 She loves me a lot. 她非常不爱我。 She really doesn’t love me much at all. 太 他太胖了。 He’s too fat. 他不太胖。 He’s not too fat. 她太爱我了。 She loves me too much. 她不太爱我。 She doesn’t really love me. 比较 他比较胖。 He’s pretty fat. – 他比较爱我。 She loves me to some extent. – 真 他真胖。 He’s really fat. 他真不胖。 He’s really not fat. 她真爱我。 She really loves me. 她真不爱我。 She really doesn’t love me.

With regard to intensifier adverbs, students should study each adverb in turn and be aware that there are exceptions in usage. Whilst grammatically, 形容词 and Regular Stative Verbs are similar in their use of intensifier adverbs, 很 is a significant exception which learners should master.

b) Making Questions with 吗 and the ‘Verb 不 Verb’ Pattern

As far as making questions are concerned, 形容词 and Regular Stative Verbs have practically the same grammatical structure. Both can be made into simple ‘yes-no’ questions with the particle 吗.

火车票很贵吗？

Was the train ticket expensive?

你懂吗?

Do you understand?

In addition, both can utilise the ‘Verb 不 Verb’ Pattern. If the 形容词 or Regular Stative Verb has two characters, then the pattern A不AB can be used (where AB represents the two character word.) Notice that 很 is not used in this sentence pattern.

火车票贵不贵？

Was the train ticket expensive?

你懂不懂？

Do you understand?

图书馆安静不安静？

Is the library quiet?

他喜不喜欢看书?

Does he like reading?

c) 形容词 Can’t Take Objects

One major difference between 形容词 and Regular Stative Verbs is that 形容词 can’t take objects. Therefore 形容词, if defined as a kind of Stative Verb, are intransitive. Notice in the examples below the verb 爱 taking the object 我, and the verb 尊敬 taking the object 老师.

我女朋友爱我。

My girlfriend loves me.

全班的学生都尊敬老师。

The whole class respects their teacher.

d) Modifying Noun Phrases with 的

Another similarity between 形容词 and Regular Stative Verbs is that they can both modify noun phrases with 的. Notice that using 的 with 形容词 and using 的 with Regular Stative Verbs utilises very different grammatical structures in English.

我会做很简单的菜。

I can cook simple dishes.

我喜欢的那本书很有意思。

The book that I like is really interesting.

However, it should be noted that single character 形容词 often do not use 的. For example, we say 好书 ‘a good book’ and 新车 ‘a new car’. There are numerous exceptions to this rule, however, which apparently can only be learned through exposure to the language. (Confusingly, 的 can also sometimes be used with single character 形容词 to emphasise the adjectival meaning.)

In contrast, both single character and double character Regular Stative Verbs usually must use 的 to modify a noun.

e) Verb Aspect and Time

The situation gets increasingly complex when verb aspect (e.g. uses of 了 and 过) are compared.

Let’s start with the 了 particle. Unlike other verbs, both 形容词 and Regular Stative Verbs can not use 了 to show completion. However, 形容词 can use 了 at the end of the sentence to show a change of state. Regular Stative Verbs also can use the change of state 了 particle.

外面热了。

It’s hot outside now.

我忘记了我女朋友生日，所以她非常生气。

I forgot my girlfriend’s birthday so now she’s really angry.

你不喜欢我了吗?

Don’t you like me anymore?

懂了。

I understand now.

Some grammar guides state that Regular Stative Verbs cannot use 过 to show experience, but in some situations it is acceptable. However, to the best of my knowledge, 形容词 can never use 过.

我以前爱过他。

I used to love him.

Both 形容词 and Regular Stative Verbs can use adverbs expressing time (e.g. 以前，以后，现在，当时) as well as time expressions using 的时候.

我以前很穷。

I used to be poor.

高中的时候，我挺胖的，不过还是能够进入足球队。

During High School, I was pretty fat, but I was still able to join the football team.

f) The 比 Sentence

Only 形容词 can be used as the main comparative element in the 比 pattern.

她比我高多了。

She is much taller than me.

It seems the only exception would be a verb phrase using 得 to form an adjectival compliment, usually with 多 or 少.

我老板喝的酒没有我喝得多。

My boss didn’t drink as much alcohol as me.

Some students are confused by the sentence 他高, and may ask why there is no 很 adverb to link the subject to the 形容词 (see ‘Using 很 and other Intensifier Adverbs’ above). In fact, 他高 is a shortened form of the sentence 他比别人高, where the noun which is compared with is omitted from the sentence.

中国人很多。

There are many Chinese people.

中国人多。

China is more populous (than other countries.)

g) Using 更 and 最

The adverbs 更 (expressing a comparative meaning of ‘more’) and 最 (expressing the superlative meaning of ‘the most’) can be used with both 形容词 and other Stative Verbs. Notice that the translation in English may be radically different in each usage.

在我们班，她中文说得最好。

In our class, she speaks the best Chinese.

我最喜欢吃火锅。

The thing I like to eat most is hot pot.

Note that the following uses of 更 are based on the comparative 比 sentence (see ‘The 比 Sentence’ above).

我觉得你比她的中文说得更好。

I think you speak Chinese even better than she does.

烧烤更好吃。

Barbeque is even tastier!

h) Reduplication Patterns

In Chinese, some words can be ‘reduplicated’. However, the reduplication of 形容词 and Regular Stative Verbs not only uses different patterns, but also results in different meanings.

形容词 can be reduplicated for several reasons; namely, to add emphasis, to describe something that is “cute” or to describe it in a “cute” manner, or for literary flair. Reduplication takes the pattern AA的 for single character words (e.g. 高高的，大大的) and AABB的 for double character words (e.g. 开开心心的，安安静静的).

胖胖的小狗太可爱了！

The chubby puppy is so cute!

那个女孩安安静静的。

That girl is quiet.

Regular Stative Verbs are reduplicated much less frequently, and many verbs are never reduplicated at all. The reduplication pattern, in contrast to 形容词 duplication, is ABAB (e.g. 喜欢喜欢). Reduplication of Regular Stative Verbs will almost inevitably sound “cutesy” or “girly”. Learners of Chinese should be careful when reduplicating both 形容词 and Stative Verbs, since in many instances reduplication may sound unnatural to native speakers.

Summary

Let’s get an overview of the differences between 形容词 and Regular Stative Verbs.

形容词 / Adjective / Adjectival Stative Verb Regular Stative Verb Is the usage similar or different? Using 很 很 is a default particle which links the Subject and 形容词 . 很 means “very” or “really”. Different. Can 好 replace 很 ? Mostly yes. Mostly no. Different. Can other ‘intensifier adverbs’ be used? Mostly yes. Mostly yes. Similar (but with exceptions.) Can 吗 and the V 不 V pattern be used? Yes. Yes. Similar. Can objects be taken? No. Mostly yes. Different. Can noun phrases be modified with 的 ? Yes, but single and double character 形容词 may differ in using 的 . Yes. Similar (but with exceptions.) Can 了 (showing completion) be used? No. No. Similar. Can 了 (showing change of state) be used? Yes. Yes. Similar. Can 过 (showing experience) be used? No. Mostly no. Similar (but with exceptions.) Can time phrases be used? Yes. Yes. Similar. Can the 比 sentence be used? Yes. No. Different. Can 更 and 最 be used? Yes. Yes. Similar. Can reduplication be used? Yes, but patterns and uses are distinct from other verbal reduplication. Mostly no. Different.

In conclusion, it is clear that although in many circumstances 形容词 do operate similarly to Regular Stative Verbs, there are a significant number of exceptions. In light of these exceptions, I consider the first approach, where 形容词 are categorised as distinct ‘Adjectives’ which sometimes share patterns with ‘Regular Stative Verbs’, to be a reasonable approach.

Ultimately, however, the title of ‘Adjective’ or ‘Adjectival (Stative) Verb’ is to some extent an arbitrary grammatical categorisation. Finding an approach that makes the most sense for each learner is more important. Alternatively, students could abandon the notion of ‘Adjectives’ or ‘Adjectival (Stative) Verbs’ altogether and simply refer to these words by their Chinese name: 形容词.

References and Further Reading

1. Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_adjectives

2. Chinese Grammar Wiki, http://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Adjectives

3. Shaum’s Outlines: Chinese Grammar, p. 49-63.

4. Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammer, p. 56-58.

5. Practical Grammar Guide for Foreigners, p. 48-57.

6. The Code of Chinese Adjectives and Adverbs, p. 3-74.

7. New Practical Chinese Reader Textbook 3, p. 50.

8. New Practical Chinese Reader Textbook 4, p. 103-104, 121-122.

9. Integrated Chinese Textbook 1, p. 50.