最

㝡/冣

zuì

取 + 日

HSK 2.0Level 2

HSK 3.0Level 2

Definitions

zuì (adverb) most; the most; -est (superlative suffix)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 宀 represents the meaning and 取 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "gather". The meaning later shifted to "accumulate", "many" and "most". Originally written as 㝡. Later extra strokes were added to the 宀 component.

About

The character 最 combines the top component 曰, resembling a sun or speech radical, with the bottom component 取, meaning "take" or "fetch". Historically, the top element originally depicted a military helmet or head covering. Together with the action of taking an enemy's ear in battle, it represented claiming the highest military merit. This association with supreme achievement evolved into a general superlative, giving 最 its primary meanings of "most", "extremely", or the suffix "-est" for adjectives. It is used to indicate the highest degree of a quality, condition, or physical location.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我最喜欢苹果。

Wǒ zuì xǐhuān píngguǒ.

I like apples the most.

今天是最热的一天。

Jīntiān shì zuì rè de yī tiān.

Today is the hottest day.

这本书最有意思。

Zhè běn shū zuì yǒuyìsi.

This book is the most interesting.

我最想去的地方是北京。

Wǒ zuì xiǎng qù de dìfāng shì Běijīng.

The place I want to go to the most is Beijing.

你最喜欢什么颜色？

Nǐ zuì xǐhuān shénme yánsè?

What color do you like the most?

我认为学习中文最有趣。

Wǒ rènwéi xuéxí Zhōngwén zuì yǒuqù.

I think learning Chinese is the most fun.

在所有的比赛中，他跑得最快。

Zài suǒyǒu de bǐsài zhōng, tā pǎo de zuì kuài.

In all the competitions, he runs the fastest.

尽管天气不好，但我们玩得最开心。

Jǐnguǎn tiānqì bù hǎo, dàn wǒmen wán de zuì kāixīn.

Even though the weather was bad, we had the most fun.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 取

Component: 日

最