Meaning of 超级
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- super-
- ultra-
- hyper-
How to use 超级
超级 works as a prefix before nouns, like 超级英雄 (chāojí yīngxióng) superhero, and in casual speech it also works like "super" before adjectives. Example: 这个菜超级好吃。(Zhège cài chāojí hǎochī.) This dish is super tasty.
超 (chāo) means to go beyond, as in 超过 (chāoguò) to surpass, and 级 (jí) means level, as in 年级 (niánjí) school grade. Something 超级 has gone beyond every normal level, so it is super.
Common mistake: Learners often write 级 (jí) as 极 (jí, extreme) because both make sense here, but 超级 uses the silk radical 纟 version. Also keep the first syllable in the first tone, chāo, not chǎo like 吵 (noisy).
超级 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
超 chāo · to exceed · 12 strokes
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级 jí · level · 6 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 超级.
| 超过 | chāoguò | to surpass; to exceed |
| 高级 | gāojí | high level; high grade |
| 超市 | chāoshì | supermarket (abbr. for 超級市場|超级市场[chao1 ji2 shi4 chang3]) |
| 年级 | niánjí | grade; year (in school, college etc) |
| 中级 | zhōngjí | middle level (in a hierarchy) |
| 班级 | bānjí | class (group of students); grade (in school) |
| 初级 | chūjí | junior; primary |
| 超越 | chāoyuè | to surpass; to exceed; to transcend |
| 上级 | shàngjí | higher authorities; superiors |
| 等级 | děngjí | grade; rank |
| 超出 | chāochū | to exceed; to overstep |
| 升级 | shēngjí | to go up by one grade; to be promoted; to escalate (in intensity) |
Questions about 超级
What does 超级 mean?
超级 (chāojí) means "super-; ultra-" and is used as a adjective.
How do you write 超级?
超级 is made of 2 characters: 超 (12 strokes), 级 (6 strokes). That is 18 strokes in total.
Is 超级 an HSK word?
Yes. 超级 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 超级 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 超级 is written 超級.
What is the difference between 超级 and 非常 for saying "very"?
非常 (fēicháng) is neutral and fine in both writing and speech. Using 超级 before an adjective sounds more casual and enthusiastic, so it fits chatting with friends better than formal writing.
Can I shorten 超级 to just 超?
Yes, in informal speech people often say 超 alone, as in 超好看 (chāo hǎokàn) super good-looking. The same shortening shows up in 超市 (chāoshì), which comes from 超级市场 (chāojí shìchǎng), supermarket.