Description
Jesse Edbrooke loves muesli for breakfast, while ShaoLan eats vegetable stir fry at every meal, and that small disagreement opens the word 最 (zuì). It works like -est in English: put it in front of any adjective and you have a superlative. 最大 (zuì dà) is the biggest, 最小 (zuì xiǎo) is the smallest, 最美 (zuì měi) is the most beautiful, and 最好 (zuì hǎo) is the best, a compliment that, ShaoLan jokes, tends to arrive just before someone asks for a favour. The same sound belongs to 醉 (zuì), drunk, so context decides whether you are the best or simply the worse for wear. Add 愛 and you get 最愛 (zuì ài), favourite, which builds sentences like 我最愛中國菜 (wǒ zuì ài zhōng guó cài), I love Chinese cuisine the most. Slot in 的 and a noun, and you can name the best teacher, the best basketball player or the best music from a handful of building blocks.
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*⏰ TIMESTAMPS:*
0:00 - Jesse Edbrooke and ShaoLan debate their favourite breakfasts
0:45 - 最 (zuì) and its drunk twin 醉
1:30 - 最大, 最小, 最美: the biggest, the smallest, the most beautiful
2:15 - 最好 (zuì hǎo): the best, and the compliment that comes before a favour
3:00 - 最愛 (zuì ài): favourite, and 我最愛中國菜
In Chinese, one small character does the work of every -est: 最 turns any adjective into a superlative.
*📖 KEY VOCABULARY:*
Most: 最 (zuì)
Drunk: 醉 (zuì)
The biggest: 最大 (zuì dà)
The smallest: 最小 (zuì xiǎo)
The most beautiful: 最美 (zuì měi)
The best: 最好 (zuì hǎo)
I love Chinese cuisine the most: 我最愛中國菜 / 我最爱中国菜 (wǒ zuì ài zhōng guó cài)
The best teacher: 最好的老師 / 最好的老师 (zuì hǎo de lǎo shī)
The best basketball player: 最好的籃球員 / 最好的篮球员 (zuì hǎo de lán qiú yuán)
The best music: 最好的音樂 / 最好的音乐 (zuì hǎo de yīn yuè)
Favourite: 最愛 / 最爱 (zuì ài)
My favourite: 我最愛 / 我最爱 (wǒ zuì ài)
*👤 ABOUT THE GUEST:*
Jesse is the guitarist and singer in Transition 前進樂團, the first British band nominated for a Golden Indie award in Taiwan. He has toured the Far East for over 10 years and produces music for major Mandarin artists like Golden Melody winner Wing 羅文裕.
*🎙️ ABOUT TALK CHINEASY:*
Talk Chineasy is a daily podcast hosted by ShaoLan, creator of the award-winning Chineasy method featured on TED. In each 7-minute episode, ShaoLan and a guest explore Chinese characters, culture, and language through stories that make Mandarin unforgettable. 300+ episodes available.
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