Meaning
超 is a versatile character meaning 'to exceed' or 'to surpass' as a verb. As a prefix or adverb, it intensifies adjectives to mean 'super,' 'ultra,' or 'extremely.' It's commonly used in modern colloquial speech to emphasize that something is beyond normal limits or expectations.
Usage
In spoken Mandarin, 超 is extremely popular among younger speakers as an intensifier before adjectives (超好吃 'super delicious', 超可爱 'super cute'). As a verb, it appears in formal contexts like 超过 'to exceed' or 超越 'to transcend.' The prefix usage has a casual, enthusiastic tone.
Examples
- 01这家餐厅的菜超好吃的！!The food at this restaurant is super delicious!
- 02今年的销售额超过了去年。.This year's sales exceeded last year's.
Common collocations
- 超市supermarket
- 超级大国superpower (nation)
- 超好吃super delicious
- 超出预期to exceed expectations
Antonyms
Origin
The character 超 is composed of the 'run/walk' radical 走 and the phonetic component 召. Its original meaning of 'to leap over' or 'to jump across' evolved into the broader sense of 'to exceed' or 'to surpass.'