莫过于 (nothing is more … than)
State a personal highest value
- A speaker says that being together with family gives the greatest happiness.
- 最幸福的事莫过于和家人在一起。 — The speaker ranks this experience above the alternatives.
State a personal highest value
- A speaker says that being together with family gives the greatest happiness.
- most最happiness幸福(of / 's)的matter事nothing can surpass莫过于and / with和family member家人at / in在in the same place一起。 — The speaker ranks this experience above the alternatives.
Locate the pattern in real examples
- 莫过于 (nothing is more … than): 最幸福的事,莫过于和家人在一起。; 最让他头疼的,莫过于每天的堵车。
- Read the whole clause before choosing a translation. The examples show the pattern in use; the context below determines what the speaker claims.
Locate the pattern in real examples
- nothing can surpass莫过于 (nothing is more … than): most最happiness幸福(of / 's)的matter事,nothing can surpass莫过于and / with和family member家人at / in在in the same place一起。; most最to let / make让he / him他headache头疼(of / 's)的,nothing can surpass莫过于every day每天(of / 's)的traffic jam堵车。
- Read the whole clause before choosing a translation. The examples show the pattern in use; the context below determines what the speaker claims.
A speaker says that being together with family gives the greatest happiness. What does 最幸福的事莫过于和家人在一起。 communicate?
The speaker ranks this experience above the alternatives. The superlative expresses the speaker's evaluation. It does not assert a scientific measurement or everybody's preference. 莫过于 introduces the experience ranked highest.
Follow the speaker
most最happy快乐的thing事nothing more than莫过于travel旅行。
- In the opening situation: 最幸福的事莫过于和家人在一起。
- The speaker ranks this experience above the alternatives.
Follow the speaker
most最happy快乐的thing事nothing more than莫过于travel旅行。
- In the opening situation: most最happiness幸福(of / 's)的matter事nothing can surpass莫过于and / with和family member家人at / in在in the same place一起。
- The speaker ranks this experience above the alternatives.
Using the pattern named in this lesson: Nothing is happier than travelling: 最快乐的事 ____ 旅行。
(the most …) 莫过于 B = nothing is more … than B: 莫过于旅行.
莫过于 is a formal, written-style pattern.
Yes — common in writing and set phrases.
Check the limit of the explanation
- The superlative expresses the speaker's evaluation.
- It does not assert a scientific measurement or everybody's preference. 莫过于 introduces the experience ranked highest.
Check the limit of the explanation
- The superlative expresses the speaker's evaluation.
- It does not assert a scientific measurement or everybody's preference. nothing can surpass莫过于 introduces the experience ranked highest.
The sentence proves that every person ranks family time first.
The superlative expresses the speaker's evaluation. It does not assert a scientific measurement or everybody's preference. 莫过于 introduces the experience ranked highest. The speaker ranks this experience above the alternatives.
Repair the form before interpreting it
- The form 莫过不于和家人在一起 needs repair here. Write 莫过于和家人在一起 instead; keep the word or frame in its demonstrated order.
- Form and meaning are separate checks. After the repair, explain the sentence in its situation rather than treating a familiar translation as a universal rule.
Repair the form before interpreting it
- The form 莫过不于and / with和family member家人at / in在in the same place一起 needs repair here. Write nothing can surpass莫过于and / with和family member家人at / in在in the same place一起 instead; keep the word or frame in its demonstrated order.
- Form and meaning are separate checks. After the repair, explain the sentence in its situation rather than treating a familiar translation as a universal rule.
Rewrite the demonstrated repair exactly: 莫过不于和家人在一起
The demonstrated form is 莫过于和家人在一起. The speaker ranks this experience above the alternatives.
Keep the distinction
- The speaker ranks this experience above the alternatives. Check the relevant speaker, time or group in the surrounding context.
- The superlative expresses the speaker's evaluation. It does not assert a scientific measurement or everybody's preference. 莫过于 introduces the experience ranked highest.
Read the full reference: HSK 6 grammar — Sentence patterns.
Keep the distinction
- The speaker ranks this experience above the alternatives. Check the relevant speaker, time or group in the surrounding context.
- The superlative expresses the speaker's evaluation. It does not assert a scientific measurement or everybody's preference. nothing can surpass莫过于 introduces the experience ranked highest.
Read the full reference: HSK 6 grammar — Sentence patterns.
莫过于 names B as…
莫过于和家人在一起 = nothing tops being with family.