adjective HSK 4
Traditional 優秀
excellent · outstanding · superior
Meaning
优秀 describes someone or something of exceptionally high quality or ability. It's commonly used to praise people's performance, character, or work results. The term carries a formal, positive tone and is frequently used in educational, professional, and official contexts.
Usage
This is a standard term of praise in Chinese schools and workplaces. Teachers often describe top students as 优秀学生 (excellent students), and companies refer to high-performing employees as 优秀员工. While positive, it's somewhat formal and less casual than words like 很棒 or 厉害.
Examples
- 01她是一位非常优秀的老师。.She is a very excellent teacher.
- 02他的工作表现一直很优秀。.His work performance has always been outstanding.
Characters
Common collocations
- 优秀学生excellent student
- 优秀员工outstanding employee
- 优秀作品excellent work/piece
- 表现优秀perform excellently
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to superiority: 优 originally depicted a person (亻) with abundance (忧 sound component suggesting plenty), while 秀 shows grain (禾) that stands out beautifully, symbolizing excellence.