Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar

describing people in terms of age

30.7

30.5.2 asking what an item is made of

To ask what an item is made of, say:

(noun) 是用什么做的？

是用甚麼做的？

shì yòng shénme zuò de?

What is (this object) made of?

这个花瓶是用什么做的？

這個花瓶是用甚麼做的？

Zhège huāpíng shì yòng shénme zuò de?

What is this vase made of?

你的耳环是用什么做的？

你的耳環是用甚麼做的？

Nǐ de ěrhuán shì yòng shénme zuò de?

What are your earrings made of?

30.6 Describing nouns in terms of attributes that imply comparison

In Mandarin, adjectival verbs imply comparison, even when they are not used in a comparison

structure. This is especially true when the adjectival verb is not preceded by an intensifier. Here

are examples. The context usually makes it clear whether a simple description or a comparison

is intended.

那本书贵。

那本書貴。

Nà běn shū guì.

That book is expensive.

or

That book is more expensive (than some other book).

王老师忙。

王老師忙。

Wáng lǎoshī máng.

Professor Wang is busy.

or

Professor Wang is busier (than some other people).

C10.5, 33

30.7 Describing people in terms of age

30.7.1 describing age

To describe a person in terms of his or her age, say:

王明(是)二十三岁。

王明(是)二十三歲。

Wáng Míng (shì) èrshísān suì.

Wang Ming is 23 (years old).

If it is clear from the context, 岁/歲 suì ‘years of age’ may be omitted:

王明(是)二十三。

Wáng Míng (shì) èrshísān.

Wang Ming is 23.