最
zuì
most, -est
adverb
Character breakdown
Source: Make Me a Hanzi.
最 first had 取 'to take' and 宀 'building', now written 日. 取 is both meaning and sound part, pointing to gathering things in one place. From 'gather' it grew to 'sum' and then 'most'. The sound link to 取 is not clear in modern Mandarin.
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Example Sentences
这是我最喜欢的书。
zhè shì wǒ zuì xǐhuan de shū 。
This is my favourite book.
他是我们班最高的学生。
tā shì wǒmen bān zuì gāo de xuésheng 。
He is the tallest student in our class.
冬天是一年中最冷的季节。
dōngtiān shì yī nián zhōng zuì lěng de jìjié 。
Winter is the coldest season of the year.
Grammar Points
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