更厉害的是，...
Reach for this when you've just stated something impressive and want to top it with something even more impressive. Literally 'what's even more amazing is...' — a spoken-register escalator that signals 'wait, there's more.' Common in casual storytelling, product reviews, social media praise, and sports commentary. It opens a new sentence and points back to whatever you just described, ranking the next fact as outperforming it. Slightly informal — for written formal escalation, prefer 更令人惊讶的是 or 尤其是.
Structure
[First statement]. 更厉害的是，[escalation clause].
gèng lìhài de shì
How to Think About It
Think of it as a verbal drumroll between two pieces of information. The first sentence sets a high bar; 更厉害的是 says 'and now I'm going to clear it.' Unlike English 'moreover' or 'furthermore' — which are neutral — 更厉害的是 carries admiration. Use it only when the second fact actually outranks the first. If it doesn't, swap in 而且 or 另外.
Examples
他跑得很快。更厉害的是，他还能游泳一千米。
Tā pǎo de hěn kuài. Gèng lìhài de shì, tā hái néng yóuyǒng yī qiān mǐ.
He runs really fast. What's even more impressive — he can swim a thousand meters.
这家餐厅菜便宜。更厉害的是，老板会说五种语言。
Zhè jiā cāntīng cài piányi. Gèng lìhài de shì, lǎobǎn huì shuō wǔ zhǒng yǔyán.
This restaurant's food is cheap. Even more impressive, the owner speaks five languages.
她三十岁就成了医生。更厉害的是，她还写过两本书。
Tā sānshí suì jiù chéngle yīshēng. Gèng lìhài de shì, tā hái xiěguò liǎng běn shū.
She became a doctor at thirty. What's even more amazing, she's also written two books.
Common Mistake
Learners use it as a generic connector like 'also' or 'and.' But 更厉害的是 must escalate — the second clause has to be more impressive than the first. Using it to add a neutral or weaker point sounds off.
他会说中文。更厉害的是，他也喜欢吃中国菜。
他会说中文。更厉害的是，他还会写书法。
Don't Confuse With
而且...
Neutral 'and what's more.' Just adds information without ranking it. Use 而且 when the second point is parallel, not bigger.
更重要的是，...
'More importantly...' — escalates by importance, not by impressiveness. Pick this in serious or analytical contexts.
尤其是...
'Especially...' — narrows down to a standout case from a group. Doesn't introduce a separate second fact.
Practice
Fill in: 他会做菜。____，他还自己种菜。
Show answer
更厉害的是
Translate to Chinese: He won the contest. What's even more impressive, he's only twelve years old.
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他赢了比赛。更厉害的是，他才十二岁。
Arrange: 是 / 他 / 更 / 的 / 厉害 / ，/ 一个人 / 完成了 / 所有 / 工作
Show answer
更厉害的是，他一个人完成了所有工作。
Use 更厉害的是 to escalate a fact about a person you admire.
Show answer
我妈妈每天工作十小时。更厉害的是，她晚上还学英语。
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 1 Fluentide episode:
Related Grammar Patterns
Acquire by listening
Hear 更厉害的是，... in real Chinese, not in a textbook.
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