Certain words in Chinese are distinctly used as adjectives, but many
other words, such as nouns, verbs and adverbs may be used to qualify
nouns. In the expression \{dok su-nyung}/ (讀書人), meaning “a
scholar,” we have the verb \{dok}/ (讀), “to read,” and the noun
\{su}/ (書), “book,” qualifying \{nyung}/ (人) “man;” the whole
expression being literally “the reading-book-man.”
Adjectives may be compared as follows: \{°tien}/ (點) is added after
the adjective to make the comparative degree, and \{°ting}/ (頂) is
placed before the adjective to form the superlative degree. Thus,
Positive Degree, “Good,” is \{°hau}/ (好). Comparative Degree,
“Better,” is \{°hau °tien}/ (好點). Superlative Degree, “Best,” is
\{°ting °hau}/ (頂好).
There are, however, many other ways of expressing the Superlative.
Thus we may have \{°hau-le-°si}/ (好來死), which is literally
“good-come death” that is, “good to the death.” This is a very
frequent expression.
We have also \{tsoe °hau}/ (最好) or \{juh °hau}/ (極好). Very good is
usually \{’man °hau}/ (蠻好). \{°Hau-tuh-juh}/ (好得極) means superlatively
good.
The adjective \{°hau}/ (好) has a very wide use. Everything that is
good, suitable, correct, or proper, may be said to be \{°hau}/ (好).