How to Combine Multiple Adjectives in Mandarin Chinese

Combining Multiple Adjectives in Mandarin Chinese
Here’s a breakdown of how to combine multiple adjectives in Mandarin, along with some important considerations:
1. Order of Adjectives:
General Rule: Adjectives follow the order of opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material.
Example:
漂亮的大红色的丝绸长裙: A beautiful big red silk long dress
古老的方形的木桌子: An ancient square wooden table
Exceptions:
Sometimes the order can be flexible depending on emphasis or context.
If you want to emphasize a specific adjective, you can put it first.
Exception: When describing a person’s character or personality, the order can be reversed, emphasizing the most significant trait first.
2. Connection Between Adjectives:
No conjunctions needed: In most cases, you simply place the adjectives together before the noun, without any conjunctions like “and” or “but.”
Example:
美丽的中国女孩: A beautiful Chinese girl
好吃的中国菜: Delicious Chinese food
Using conjunctions:
又…又… (yòu…yòu…): “both…and…” Used to emphasize two positive qualities.
又大又圆 (yòu dà yòu yuán): Big and round
又高又瘦 (yòu gāo yòu shòu): Tall and thin
Example: 又香又甜的蛋糕 (yòu xiāng yòu tián de dàngāo) – A cake that is both fragrant and sweet.
Example: 又贵又难吃 (yòu guì yòu nánchī) – Expensive and not tasty.
既…又… (jì…yòu…): “both…and…” Formal or literary style.
Example: 既美丽又勇敢 (jì měilì yòu yǒnggǎn) – Both beautiful and brave.
既…也… (jì…yě…): “both…and…” Formal or literary style.
Example: 既聪明也勤奋 (jì cōngming yě qínfèn) – Both intelligent and hardworking.
不但…而且… (bùdàn…érqiě…): “not only…but also…” Emphasizes a greater degree of the second quality.
Example: 不但漂亮而且善良 (bùdàn piàoliang érqiě shànliáng) – Not only beautiful but also kind.
除了…还… (chúle…hái…): “besides…also…” Emphasizes the addition of a second quality.
Example: 除了好吃还便宜 (chúle hǎochī hái piányi) – Besides being delicious, it’s also cheap.
3. Avoid Redundancy:
Be mindful of redundancy when combining adjectives.
Example: “红色的红色衣服” (red red clothes) is redundant and grammatically incorrect. Use “红色的衣服” (red clothes) instead.
4. Tone Changes:
Be aware of tone changes when combining adjectives. Some adjectives change their tone when used before a noun. Refer to a dictionary or grammar resources for specific tone changes.
Example Sentences:
美丽的红花: (měilì de hónghuā) – Beautiful red flowers
漂亮的大眼睛: (piàoliang de dà yǎnjīng) – Beautiful big eyes
古老的木门: (gǔlǎo de mù mén) – Ancient wooden door
可爱的小猫: (kě’ài de xiǎo māo) – Cute little cat
又高又瘦的女孩: (yòu gāo yòu shòu de nǚhái) – Tall and thin girl
又好吃又便宜的饭店: (yòu hǎochī yòu piányi de fàn diàn) – Delicious and affordable restaurant
5.Combine adjectives with “但 dàn” (but), when they have a contradictory meaning
Example 1:

这是一座漂亮的，但很贵的房子。

(zhè shì yī zuò piào liàng de, dàn hěn guì de fáng zi.)

This is a beautiful but expensive house.

Example 2:

这是一道很辣的，但很好吃的菜。

zhè shì yī dào hěn là de, dàn hěn hǎo chī de cài.

This dish is very spicy but tasty.