- Substantive particles which follow the adjective they qualify, and imply a slight variation only. This variation may be increase or diminution, according to the sense of the adjective compared.
- Verbs. Of these, the verb 比 compare is in constant use. It is found with other particles, or without any particle, and retains its syntax as a verb, unaffected by its use as an auxiliary in the comparison of adjectives. The other verbs employed express addition. Their opposites are used in a similar manner; e.g. 減少 ’kan ’sau, 減脫 ’kan t’eh, subtract.
- Conjunctions and adverbs form the remainder of the particles employed in comparison. They imply a difference without specifying whether it be greater or less, so that they correspond more nearly to the English suffix er than to the particle more. The repeated form 越, 越 just answers to the particle the, in “the sooner the better.” Such English forms as this are usually regarded as elliptical, and in explaining them, words supposed to be omitted are supplied. In the corresponding Chinese phrases, there is no ground for the hypothesis of an ellipsis.
178. The subjoined auxiliary particles supply the place of a superlative. The first three are placed before the adjective they qualify. The rest follow their word.
a. 頂 ’ting, highest, top.
- 天狼心頂亮 t’íen long sing ’ting liáng‘, Sirius is a very bright star.
- 頂强者 ’ting giáng ’tsé, at the lowest price.
- 伊个人頂明白 í kú‘ niun ’ting ming báh, that man is very intelligent.
- 頂大頂多, ’ting dú‘, ’ting tú, very great, very many.
b. 最 tsûe‘, exceedingly, the most.
- 老虎最利害 ’lau ’hú ’tsûe‘ lí‘ é‘, the tiger is very fierce.
- 窵鳥當中鳳凰最好看 ’tiau ’niau tong tsóng, vóng wong‘ tsûe‘ ’hau k’ön‘, among birds, the phoenix is the most beautiful.
- 天地當中人最玲瓏 t’íen dí‘ tong tsóng, niun tsûe‘ ling lóng, of all things in heaven and earth, man is the most intelligent.
c. 極, kiuh, extremely; this particle is used before or after the adjective which it qualifies.
- 聰明得極 t’sóng ming tuh giuh, extremely intelligent.
- 極深奧 kiuh sun au‘, extremely profound.
- 有文理得極 ’yeu vun ’lí tuh giuh, very beautifully written.
- 斯文得極 sz vun tuh giuh, extremely polite and elegant.
d. 野 ’yá, wild, great; this word requires one of the auxiliary verbs 來 or 得 verbs before it.
- 黃浦裡險得野 Wong-p’ú‘ ’lí ’híen tuh ’ya, the Hwang-p’u is very dangerous.
- 天高來野拉 t’íen kau le ’yá ’lá, heaven is very high.