算 + Adj + 的 (counts as / considered)
IntroducedTall within a class is a judgement
- A student is fairly tall compared with classmates. he他in在the class班里counts as算tall高(modifier / structural particle)的。 — He counts as tall in the class.
- The speaker places him in a tall category for that group. The sentence does not make him the tallest or compare him with every adult.
A student is fairly tall compared with classmates. What does 他在班里算高的。 communicate?
The speaker places him in the tall group within this class. 算 expresses an evaluation against a reference group. 的 is not required in every 算 expression: 这算便宜 is natural too.
State the category being assigned
- Use counts as算 + adjective (+ (modifier / structural particle)的) in this judgement: counts as算tall高(modifier / structural particle)的. The class phrase gives the reference group.
- this这counts as算cheap便宜。 — This counts as cheap. (modifier / structural particle)的 is not required in that example; do not add it to every counts as算 expression as a fixed rule.
he他in在the class班里counts as算tall高的。
Use the lesson target 算 in this demonstrated example: He counts as tall in the class: 他在班里 ____ 高的。
算 + Adj + 的 = counts as: 算高的.
A category differs from first place
- A fictional class has heights 168, 175 and 182 cm. In this example the teacher calls both 175 and 182 “tall”.
- The 175 cm student can count as tall without being tallest. Category membership and the maximum height are different claims.
这算便宜 means…
算 = is considered / counts as: 这算便宜.
A teacher calls 175 cm and 182 cm tall in a class whose heights are 168, 175 and 182. Can 175 count as tall without being tallest?
It belongs to the teacher’s stated tall category while 182 is taller.
The reference can change the judgement
- The same person joins a group of much taller players. A speaker’s judgement of whether he counts as tall may change with that group.
- The person need not have become shorter. The comparison standard changed; counts as算tall高(modifier / structural particle)的 does not set a universal height threshold.
算 makes a judgement that the subject fits a category.
Yes — 他算高的 (he falls into the “tall” group).
他在班里算高的 proves he is the tallest student.
Counting as tall does not mean having the maximum height.
If a person counts as tall in one group but not another, their own measured height must have decreased.
A changed reference group can change the judgement without changing the person’s height.
counts as算 also appears in other constructions
- this这counts as算cheap便宜。 is a judgement about price. counts as算(used after a verb) give it…一下三加two二。 asks for a calculation.
- The shared character does not give both sentences a category judgement. Read the surrounding words to identify the job.
Match the two 算 constructions to their jobs.
The complete sentence separates category judgement from calculation.
Keep the category and reference group
- Find the property judged with counts as算 and the relevant group or comparison standard. Preserve that limit in the paraphrase.
- Counting as tall is not being tallest. A category judgement is also different from calculating a numerical answer.
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar.
Recall the situation: Tall within a class is a judgement. Decide what the speaker wanted to communicate. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.