最
zuìprefix
The English word 'most' is translated into Chinese as 最 (zuì).
最 is used to form the superlative degree of a quality, such as saying something is 'the most' of a certain category.
Meaning: forming the superlative (adv)
Which one should you use?
There are distinct ways to express different meanings of 'most' in English. Use 最 when you want to express the superlative degree (e.g., 'the most beautiful'). Use 大部分 when you mean 'most of' or 'the majority of' (a quantifier). Use 最多 when you are referring to the maximum amount or the largest number of something.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Taiwanese Hokkien, the term for 'most' is often expressed as 最.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
最 functions as a prefix that is placed directly before an adjective or a psychological verb to form the superlative, following the pattern 最 + adjective/verb.
How do you pronounce it?
zuì
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid placing 最 directly before a noun to mean 'most [nouns]'. In Chinese, you should use 大部分 or 许多 instead.
Did you know?
- The simplified form of 最 uses the character 曰, which actually means 'to say' or 'to speak'. This is a visual corruption of the original complex components over many centuries.
- In Chinese, you can use 最 with verbs that describe feelings, such as 'to love' or 'to like', to create a superlative. This allows you to say you 'most love' something, a construction that functions differently than English superlative adjectives.
Examples in context
- 她最讨厌数学。He hates maths the most.This sentence is useful for showing how to express a superlative feeling toward a subject with 最.Tatoeba #1750550 by sadhen, translation #7772862 by sharris123
- 北京哪裡最好玩？Where can one have the most fun in Beijing?This sentence demonstrates using 最 to ask for the superlative fun experience in a location.Tatoeba #6038846 by xjjAstrus, translation #9408524 by BobbyLee
- Tom 最喜欢我。Tom likes me the most.This sentence shows how to use 最 with a psychological verb to indicate preference.Tatoeba #4789468 by Hellomarc, translation #4872229 by zvzuibqx
- 最重要的Most important
- 多数学生Most students
- 多数参与者Most participants
- 绝大多数的人The vast majority of people
- 很多时候Most of the time
- 大部分人同意Most people agree
- 最多人Most people
- 159 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing their favorite seasonal activities.
- 伟 Wei你最喜欢什么季节？Nǐ zuì xǐhuān shénme jìjié?What season do you like most?
- 雨婷 Yuting我最喜欢秋天。Wǒ zuì xǐhuān qiūtiān.I like autumn most.
- 伟 Wei我也觉得秋天最舒服。Wǒ yě juédé qiūtiān zuì shūfú.I also think autumn is the most comfortable.
- 雨婷 Yuting对啊，天气很凉快。Duì a, tiānqì hěn liángkuai.True, the weather is very cool.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “most” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 最, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
