How to Say “Counts As” with 算 (suàn)
算 (suàn) makes a judgment: it means “counts as / is considered,” not a flat “is.” With a noun it's Subject (+ 不) + 算 + Noun (她算天才, “she counts as a genius”). With an adjective it means “relatively / on the ___ side,” keeping 的 in the affirmative (算便宜的) but dropping it after 不算 (不算难). Add 是 (算是) to make the judgment more reluctant: 他算是好老师 (“you could say he's a good teacher”).
Why this trips learners up
算 (suàn) makes a judgment. Its core sense is “counts as / is considered / qualifies as,” a verdict you could argue about, not the flat identity of 是. With a noun the frame is Subject (+ 不) + 算 + Noun: 她算天才 (“she counts as a genius”), 这算秘密吗？ (“does this count as a secret?”), 我们认识，但不算朋友 (“we know each other, but don't really count as friends”).
With an adjective, 算 adds a “comparatively speaking” flavour, “relatively / on the ___ side.” Here the affirmative keeps 的: Subject + 算 + Adj + 的. 这家店的东西算便宜的 (“the stuff in this shop is on the cheap side”), 在我们公司，我算年轻的 (“at our company I count as one of the younger ones”). The negative drops 的: Subject + 不算 + Adj. 这次考试不算难 (“this exam isn't that hard”), 五十块不算贵 (“fifty kuai isn't expensive”). That 的 asymmetry, kept when affirmative, gone after 不算, is the piece learners drop.
Because 算 already carries “relatively,” don't stack 很 on top: it's 我算年轻的, not 我算很年轻的 (if you want a plain strong degree, just use 很年轻). And you can soften the verdict further by adding 是 right after 算. 算是 sounds a touch reluctant, “I suppose you could say”: 他算天才 is a fairly confident “he counts as a genius,” while 他算是天才 is “well, you could say he's a genius.” The same word turns up in fixed colloquial lines too, like 这不算什么 (“it's no big deal”).
The confusion to clear up is 算 versus 是. 是 states a flat fact of identity, 她是天才 (“she IS a genius”), whereas 算 offers a graded judgment, 她算天才 (“she counts as / is considered one”), something you're weighing rather than asserting outright. And with adjectives, keep 算 apart from plain 很: 这个很便宜 is “this is very cheap” (plain degree), while 这个算便宜的 is “this counts as cheap, comparatively” (a judgment). Quick test: if you mean “counts as / is considered / relatively,” reach for 算; if you mean a plain “is” or “very,” use 是 or 很.
The structure
Colour key
Each colour marks one grammatical role — and the same colour means the same role on every page in the Lab.
Examples in context
Real-world sentences, easiest first. Toggle pinyin or the translation, tap any word to see its role, or play the audio.
Tap a word to see its grammatical role.
zhè 这 Subject suàn 算 Pattern mìmì 秘密 Object ma 吗 Question
Does this count as a secret? (算 + noun, in a question).
tā 她 Subject suàn 算 Pattern wǒ de hǎo péngyou 我的好朋友 Object
She counts as a good friend of mine (算 + noun, affirmative).
wǒmen 我们 Subject rènshi 认识 Verb dàn ，但 Connector bù 不 Negation suàn 算 Pattern péngyou 朋友 Object
We know each other, but don't really count as friends (不算 + noun).
zhè jiā diàn de dōngxi 这家店的东西 Subject suàn 算 Pattern piányi 便宜 Adjective de 的 Function word
The stuff in this shop is on the cheap side (算 + adjective + 的, affirmative).
zhè cì kǎoshì 这次考试 Subject bù 不 Negation suàn 算 Pattern nán 难 Adjective
This exam isn't that hard (不算 + adjective, 的 dropped).
zài wǒmen gōngsī 在我们公司 Place wǒ ，我 Subject suàn 算 Pattern niánqīng 年轻 Adjective de 的 Function word
At our company, I count as one of the younger ones (算 + adjective + 的, “relatively”).
tā 他 Subject suàn shì 算是 Pattern yí gè hǎo lǎoshī 一个好老师 Object
You could say he's a good teacher, I suppose (算是, the reluctant hedge).
bié dānxīn 别担心 Other zhè ，这 Subject bù 不 Negation suàn 算 Pattern shénme 什么 Object
Don't worry, it's no big deal (the colloquial 不算什么).
Common mistakes
Why it happens: The affirmative 算 + adjective keeps 的: it's Subject + 算 + Adj + 的. “The stuff here is on the cheap side” is 这家店的东西算便宜的, not 算便宜. Without the 的 the sentence feels unfinished, the 的 is what closes the “counts as ___” judgment.
Why it happens: The negative drops that 的: 不算 + adjective stands alone. “This exam isn't that hard” is 这次考试不算难, not 不算难的. So the 的 appears in 算难的 but disappears the moment you negate it to 不算难.
Why it happens: 算 + adjective already means “relatively / counts as,” so you don't add 很. It's 我算年轻的, not 我算很年轻的. If you want a plain strong degree, drop 算 and just say 很年轻; 算 and 很 pull in different directions.
Compare & contrast
| 是 / 很: states a plain fact | 算 (是): counts as / relatively, a judgment | The difference |
|---|---|---|
| 她是天才tā shì tiāncái = “she is a genius” (a flat statement of identity) | 她算天才tā suàn tiāncái = “she counts as / is considered a genius” (a judgment you could debate) | 她是天才 = “she is a genius,” 是 stating a flat identity. 她算天才 = “she counts as / is considered a genius,” 算 offering a judgment you could debate. An assertion versus a verdict. |
| 这个很便宜zhège hěn piányi = “this is very cheap” (plain degree) | 这个算便宜的zhège suàn piányi de = “this counts as cheap / is on the cheap side” (a comparative judgment, keep 的) | 这个很便宜 = “this is very cheap,” 很 giving a plain degree. 这个算便宜的 = “this counts as cheap / is on the cheap side,” 算…的 giving a comparative judgment (and keeping the 的). Very versus relatively. |
Try it yourself
Say “In class I count as one of the tall ones.” Keep the 的: Subject + 算 + adjective + 的.
Related patterns
Quick reference card
How to Say “Counts As” with 算 (suàn) grammar.merrymandarin.com A pocket summary — print it and keep it by your desk.