最最 (zuì zuì) — extremely, to the utmost

Definition

最最 is the reduplicated form of 最, used colloquially to emphasize 'the very most' — more emphatic and informal than a single 最, which can read as neutral superlative.

bound form

extremelyto the utmost

Examples

最最。
Zhè shì wǒ zuì zuì zuì qī dài de shì qing.
This is the thing I'm most looking forward to.
最最。
Tā zuì zuì guān xīn zhè ge wèn tí.
He cares about this issue the most.
最最。
Zhè ge dì fāng zuì zuì měi lì.
This place is the most beautiful.

Origin

Reduplicated word

构词法gòucífǎ

重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

最zuìmost

The form 最 appears twice to push the degree to the utmost.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

宀宀miánroof

Sound part声符shēngfú

取

取qǔ最zuì

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape pairs 取, which gives the sound, with a roof-like top from 宀; marks above were later added to separate the “most” meaning.

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