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HSK 2

最

most (superlative)

adverbneutral
最
zuì4th tone

HSK level

1
2
3
4
5
6
Pinyin
zuì
Part of speech
adverb
Level
HSK 2
Strokes
12
Register
neutral

Stroke order for 最

最 is written with 12 strokes. The animation replays automatically.

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 比 — 最 is reserved for the absolute top.

Note: Standard adverb used in speech and writing. The all-purpose superlative marker — there's no separate '-est' ending in Chinese.

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

最好zuì hǎobest; (it would be) best to
最喜欢zuì xǐhuanfavorite; like the most
最大zuì dàbiggest; largest
最近zuìjìnrecently; lately
最后zuìhòufinally; the last; in the end

Synonyms

更gèng

更 means 'even more' (comparative); 最 means 'the most' (superlative). 这个更好 = 'this one is better'; 这个最好 = 'this one is the best.' Different rank: 更 compares two; 最 picks the top of all.

极jí

极 means 'extremely' (often as 极了 after an adjective: 好极了 'extremely good'). 最 specifies a top position in a comparison; 极 just intensifies. Use 最 when ranking; use 极了 for emphasis.

Don't confuse 最 with

醉zuì

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zuì

罪 ('crime / guilt') is also pronounced zuì. Same sound, different character with 网 (net) on top, different meaning. Tone and pinyin match — context disambiguates.

更gèng

Beginners often use 最 where 更 is correct. If you're comparing two things, use 更 ('more'). If you're picking the top from many, use 最.

Frequently asked questions

Acquire it by listening

Meet 最 again — in real Chinese, at your level.

Fluentide turns real news into Chinese listening at your exact level, so words like 最 show up again and again in natural sentences — with pinyin and translation every time. No flashcards. Free to start.