最
most (superlative)
zuì
What does 最 mean?
最 (zuì) is the superlative adverb that turns any adjective or stative verb into 'the most ___' — it does the work of English '-est' and 'the most.' Place it directly before the adjective: 最高 ('tallest'), 最好 ('best'), 最喜欢 ('like the most / favorite'). Three things to notice. First, no article is needed — Chinese has no 'the,' so 最高的山 ('the tallest mountain') uses just 最 + adjective + 的 + noun.
Second, 最 commonly appears with 喜欢: 我最喜欢吃面条 = 'my favorite thing to eat is noodles.' Third, 最 can also mean 'extremely' on its own, especially in written or formal contexts: 这是最重要的 = 'this is the most important.' For comparatives ('-er than'), use 更 (gèng) or
Character breakdown
most; -est; extremely
Memory hook: Think of 最 as a podium: the gold-medal slot, the absolute top of the ranking.
Example sentences
我最喜欢吃中国菜。
Wǒ zuì xǐhuan chī Zhōngguó cài.
My favorite food is Chinese food.
neutral
这是最好的办法。
Zhè shì zuì hǎo de bànfǎ.
This is the best way.
neutral
他是我们班最高的。
Tā shì wǒmen bān zuì gāo de.
He's the tallest in our class.
neutral
你最近怎么样？
Nǐ zuìjìn zěnmeyàng?
How have you been recently?
spoken
妈妈做的菜最好吃。
Māma zuò de cài zuì hǎochī.
Mom's cooking is the most delicious.
spoken
Common phrases with 最
Synonyms
Don't confuse 最 with
醉 ('drunk') sounds identical to 最 but is a verb/adjective about being drunk. Same pinyin zuì, different character (with 酉 wine radical), totally different meaning.
罪 ('crime / guilt') is also pronounced zuì. Same sound, different character with 网 (net) on top, different meaning. Tone and pinyin match — context disambiguates.
FAQ
Acquire by listening
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