What are Chinese adverbs of degree?
Adverbs of degree describe how strong, weak, serious, or intense something is.
In English, words like “very,” “quite,” “a little,” “too,” and “extremely” are adverbs of degree.
In Chinese, common adverbs of degree include「很」、「非常」、「好」、「太」、「挺」、「稍微」and「超級」.
For beginners, remember this basic pattern first:
| Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Degree adverb + adjective | very / quite / a little + adjective |
| Degree adverb + psychological verb | really like / really hate / really want |
Many degree adverbs can be used with adjectives, and some can also be used with psychological verbs such as「喜歡」、「討厭」、「想」and「怕」.
1. 很 hěn: very / neutral linking word
「很」often means “very,” but not always.
When「很」is used before an adjective, it can simply make the sentence sound complete. In many beginner sentences,「很」does not need to be translated strongly as “very.”
| Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Subject + 很 + Adjective | Subject is adjective. |
| Subject + 很 + Psychological verb | Subject really / quite feels that way. |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我很高興。 ♬ | wǒ hěn gāoxìng | I am happy. / I am very happy. |
| 這很有趣。 ♬ | zhè hěn yǒuqù | This is interesting. |
| 我很喜歡。 ♬ | wǒ hěn xǐhuān | I really like it. |
With adjectives,「很」can be weak. With verbs like「喜歡」, it often sounds closer to “really.”
2. 非常 fēicháng: very / extremely
「非常」means “very” or “extremely.” It is stronger and clearer than「很」.
| Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 非常 + Adjective | very / extremely adjective |
| 非常 + Psychological verb | really / very much feel that way |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我非常高興。 ♬ | wǒ fēicháng gāoxìng | I am very happy. |
| 這個問題非常重要。 ♬ | zhège wèntí fēicháng zhòngyào | This problem is very important. |
| 我非常喜歡中文。 ♬ | wǒ fēicháng xǐhuān Zhōngwén | I really like Chinese. / I like Chinese very much. |
「非常」is useful in both speech and writing. It is clearer than「很」when you really want to say “very.”
3. 好 hǎo: so / really, in casual speech
「好」can be used before an adjective or feeling verb to mean “so” or “really.”
This use is common in casual speech and often sounds emotional.
| Pattern | Feeling |
|---|---|
| 好 + Adjective | so adjective / really adjective |
| 好 + Psychological verb | really like / really miss / really want |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我好高興。 ♬ | wǒ hǎo gāoxìng | I am so happy. |
| 這個好漂亮。 ♬ | zhège hǎo piàoliang | This is so beautiful. |
| 我好喜歡。 ♬ | wǒ hǎo xǐhuān | I really like it. |
「好」in this use is more emotional and conversational than「非常」.
4. 太...了 tài...le: too / so
「太……了」means “too...” or “so...” depending on context.
It often expresses strong emotion. It can be positive or negative.
| Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 太 + Adjective + 了 | too / so adjective |
| 太 + Psychological verb + 了 | really / too much feel that way |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我太高興了。 ♬ | wǒ tài gāoxìng le | I am so happy. |
| 這太貴了。 ♬ | zhè tài guì le | This is too expensive. |
| 我太喜歡了。 ♬ | wǒ tài xǐhuān le | I like it so much. |
Do not translate「太」as only “too.” In positive sentences, it can mean “so” or “really.”
5. 挺 tǐng: quite / pretty
「挺」means “quite” or “pretty.” It is common in speech and sounds natural in daily conversation.
| Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 挺 + Adjective | quite / pretty adjective |
| 挺 + Psychological verb | quite like / quite want / quite dislike |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我挺高興。 ♬ | wǒ tǐng gāoxìng | I am quite happy. |
| 這家店挺好吃。 ♬ | zhè jiā diàn tǐng hǎochī | The food at this restaurant is pretty good. |
| 我挺喜歡這裡。 ♬ | wǒ tǐng xǐhuān zhèlǐ | I quite like this place. |
「挺」is very useful for beginner conversation because it is not too strong and sounds natural.
6. 相當 xiāngdāng: quite / fairly / rather
「相當」can mean “quite,” “fairly,” or “rather.” It sounds more formal than「挺」.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我相當高興。 ♬ | wǒ xiāngdāng gāoxìng | I am quite happy. |
| 這個問題相當複雜。 ♬ | zhège wèntí xiāngdāng fùzá | This problem is quite complicated. |
| 我相當喜歡這本書。 ♬ | wǒ xiāngdāng xǐhuān zhè běn shū | I quite like this book. |
For daily speech,「挺」is often easier and more natural.「相當」is useful in writing, formal speech, or explanations.
7. 稍微 shāowéi: a little / slightly
「稍微」means “a little” or “slightly.” It is useful when the degree is small.
| Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 稍微 + Verb / Adjective | slightly / a little |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我稍微有點累。 ♬ | wǒ shāowéi yǒudiǎn lèi | I am a little tired. |
| 請稍微等一下。 ♬ | qǐng shāowéi děng yíxià | Please wait a little. |
| 這個稍微貴一點。 ♬ | zhège shāowéi guì yìdiǎn | This one is a little more expensive. |
「稍微」is more natural for beginners than「略」or「略微」.
8. 略 lüè / 略微 lüèwēi: slightly, more written
「略」and「略微」also mean “slightly,” but they are more formal or written than「稍微」.
For beginner daily conversation, use「稍微」first.
| Word | Feeling | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 略 ♬ | written; less common in speech | 略高 ♬ |
| 略微 ♬ | written; formal | 略微生氣 ♬ |
| 稍微 ♬ | more common and useful | 稍微等一下 ♬ |
「略高」、「略低」、「略微不同」are common in written descriptions. In daily speech,「稍微高一點」、「有點不同」often sound more natural.
9. 格外 géwài: especially / particularly
「格外」means “especially” or “particularly.” It often means the degree is stronger than usual or stronger than expected.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 今天我格外高興。 ♬ | jīntiān wǒ géwài gāoxìng | I am especially happy today. |
| 他今天格外安靜。 ♬ | tā jīntiān géwài ānjìng | He is especially quiet today. |
| 我格外喜歡這首歌。 ♬ | wǒ géwài xǐhuān zhè shǒu gē | I especially like this song. |
「格外」is not just “very.” It often compares the situation with a normal situation.
10. 超級 chāojí: super / extremely, casual
「超級」means “super” or “extremely.” It is common in casual speech and sounds stronger than「很」.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我超級高興。 ♬ | wǒ chāojí gāoxìng | I am super happy. |
| 這個超級好吃。 ♬ | zhège chāojí hǎochī | This is super delicious. |
| 我超級喜歡。 ♬ | wǒ chāojí xǐhuān | I like it a lot. / I super like it. |
「超級」is useful in conversation, but it can sound too casual for formal writing.
11. 極其 jíqí / 極度 jídù: extremely, more formal
「極其」and「極度」both mean “extremely.” They are stronger and more formal than「非常」.
They are common in writing, news, formal speech, and serious descriptions.
| Word | Feeling | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 極其 ♬ | extremely; formal | 極其重要 ♬ |
| 極度 ♬ | extremely; high degree | 極度緊張 ♬ |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 這件事極其重要。 ♬ | zhè jiàn shì jíqí zhòngyào | This matter is extremely important. |
| 他極度緊張。 ♬ | tā jídù jǐnzhāng | He is extremely nervous. |
For beginner daily conversation,「非常」or「超級」is usually easier than「極其」and「極度」.
12. 極了 jíle: extremely, after adjective or verb
Most degree adverbs come before the adjective or verb.「極了」is different. It comes after the adjective or psychological verb.
| Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Adjective + 極了 | extremely adjective |
| Psychological verb + 極了 | extremely feel that way |
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我高興極了。 ♬ | wǒ gāoxìng jíle | I am extremely happy. |
| 這個好吃極了。 ♬ | zhège hǎochī jíle | This is extremely delicious. |
| 我喜歡極了。 ♬ | wǒ xǐhuān jíle | I like it extremely much. |
「極了」sounds expressive and strong. Beginners can recognize it first before using it often.
13. Common mistake: 很 is not always very
Many learners translate every「很」as “very,” but this can be too strong.
| Chinese | Better beginner meaning | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我很高興。 ♬ | happy / very happy | I am happy. |
| 他很忙。 ♬ | busy / very busy | He is busy. |
| 這很難。 ♬ | difficult / very difficult | This is difficult. |
If you really want to emphasize “very,” use「非常」or「超級」depending on the tone you want.
14. Common mistake: 太...了 is not always negative
In English, “too” is often negative. In Chinese,「太……了」can be negative or positive.
| Chinese | Feeling | English |
|---|---|---|
| 太貴了。 ♬ | negative | Too expensive. |
| 太好了！ ♬ | positive | Great! / That is so good! |
| 太可愛了！ ♬ | positive | So cute! |
15. Which one should beginners use first?
| Use first | Meaning | Feeling |
|---|---|---|
| 很 ♬ | very / neutral with adjectives | basic and common |
| 非常 ♬ | very | clear and useful |
| 好 ♬ | so / really | casual and emotional |
| 太……了 ♬ | too / so | strong emotion |
| 挺 ♬ | quite / pretty | natural in speech |
| 稍微 ♬ | a little / slightly | useful and natural |
| 超級 ♬ | super | casual and strong |
For beginners, these seven are the most useful. Other words like「相當」、「格外」、「極其」、「極度」and「極了」are useful, but they sound more formal, stronger, or more specific.
Quick review
| Adverb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 很 | very / neutral with adjectives | 我很高興。 ♬ |
| 非常 | very | 我非常高興。 ♬ |
| 好 | so / really, casual | 我好高興。 ♬ |
| 太……了 | too / so | 太好了！ ♬ |
| 挺 | quite / pretty | 我挺喜歡這裡。 ♬ |
| 相當 | quite / fairly, more formal | 這個問題相當複雜。 ♬ |
| 稍微 | a little / slightly | 請稍微等一下。 ♬ |
| 格外 | especially / particularly | 今天我格外高興。 ♬ |
| 超級 | super / extremely, casual | 這個超級好吃。 ♬ |
| 極其 / 極度 | extremely, more formal | 這件事極其重要。 ♬ |
| 極了 | extremely, after adjective or verb | 我高興極了。 ♬ |
Useful vocabulary
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 程度副詞 ♬ | chéngdù fùcí | adverb of degree |
| 很 ♬ | hěn | very; neutral degree word |
| 非常 ♬ | fēicháng | very; extremely |
| 好 ♬ | hǎo | so; really, before adjectives or feeling verbs |
| 太……了 ♬ | tài...le | too; so |
| 挺 ♬ | tǐng | quite; pretty |
| 相當 ♬ | xiāngdāng | quite; fairly; rather |
| 稍微 ♬ | shāowéi | a little; slightly |
| 略 ♬ | lüè | slightly; briefly |
| 略微 ♬ | lüèwēi | slightly; a little, more formal |
| 格外 ♬ | géwài | especially; particularly |
| 超級 ♬ | chāojí | super; extremely |
| 極其 ♬ | jíqí | extremely; exceedingly |
| 極度 ♬ | jídù | extremely; extreme degree |
| 極了 ♬ | jíle | extremely; very, placed after adjective or verb |
| 高興 ♬ | gāoxìng | happy; glad |
| 喜歡 ♬ | xǐhuān | to like |
| 有趣 ♬ | yǒuqù | interesting; funny |
| 重要 ♬ | zhòngyào | important |
| 複雜 ♬ | fùzá | complicated |
| 漂亮 ♬ | piàoliang | beautiful |
| 好吃 ♬ | hǎochī | delicious |
| 貴 ♬ | guì | expensive |
| 緊張 ♬ | jǐnzhāng | nervous; tense |
| 安靜 ♬ | ānjìng | quiet |
| 等一下 ♬ | děng yíxià | wait a moment |
| 有點 ♬ | yǒudiǎn | a little; somewhat |
No comments:
Post a Comment