attributive word; distinguishing word; adjective subcategory
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 5 examplesnoun
attributive word; distinguishing word (a subcategory of adjectives indicating attributes or characteristics, mainly functioning as attributives)
technicalIn Chinese grammar, attribute words cannot serve as predicates. They primarily modify nouns as attributives (定语), and a small number can modify verbs as adverbials (状语). Common examples include 男 (male), 大型 (large-scale), 野生 (wild), 首要 (primary), 自动 (automatic), and 定期 (regular).
Nán男
xué学
sheng生
hé和
nǚ女
xué学
sheng生
fēn分
bù不
tóng同
de的
sù宿
shè舍
。
Male students and female students live in different dormitories.
Zhè这
shì是
yī一
bù部
dà大
xíng型
gē歌
jù剧
，
xū需
yào要
hěn很
duō多
yǎn演
yuán员
。
This is a large-scale opera that requires many performers.
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Wǒ我
men们
yīng应
gāi该
bǎo保
hù护
yě野
shēng生
dòng动
wù物
，
bù不
yào要
liè猎
shā杀
tā它
men们
。
We should protect wild animals and not hunt them.
Zhè这
shì是
shǒu首
yào要
de的
rèn任
wù务
，
bì必
xū须
mǎ马
shàng上
wán完
chéng成
。
This is the primary task and must be completed immediately.
Zhè这
gè个
xì系
tǒng统
kě可
yǐ以
zì自
dòng动
kòng控
zhì制
wēn温
dù度
。
This system can automatically control the temperature.