Degree Adverbs

By the end of this lesson, you will use seven key degree adverbs precisely, understand their register differences, and avoid the colloquial-formal mismatches that mark unnatural speech.

What Degree Adverbs Do

Degree adverbs (程度副词 chéngdù fùcí) modify adjectives and some verbs to express intensity — how much, how little, or in what way. Using the right one signals fluency; using the wrong one sounds off even when grammatically correct.

The Seven Key Degree Adverbs

1. 很 (hěn) — very

The default degree marker in Mandarin. In many contexts 很 is required even when the English "very" isn't intended — it serves as a linking word between subject and adjective.

他很高。 (Tā hěn gāo.) — He is tall. (not necessarily "very tall") 今天很冷。 (Jīntiān hěn lěng.) — Today is cold.

Without any degree adverb, a bare adjective as predicate carries a comparative or evaluative tone: 他高。 = "He is tall" (implying: compared to someone else). Add 很 to make it a neutral statement.

Register: Neutral — works in all situations.

2. 太...了 (tài...le) — too (excessively)

太 always pairs with 了 at the end of the sentence/phrase. It means "excessively" — beyond what is ideal or comfortable.

这个太贵了！ (Zhège tài guì le!) — This is too expensive! 今天太冷了。 (Jīntiān tài lěng le.) — It's too cold today. 你太厉害了！ (Nǐ tài lìhai le!) — You're amazing! (colloquially — intensely impressive)

Note: In informal speech, 太...了 is often used positively for emphasis: 太好了! (Great! / Excellent!)

Register: Informal and spoken. Natural in conversation; slightly emphatic in writing.

3. 非常 (fēicháng) — extremely, very

非常 is stronger and more emphatic than 很. It translates roughly to "extremely" or "exceptionally."

这道菜非常好吃。 (Zhè dào cài fēicháng hǎochī.) — This dish is extremely delicious. 她非常聪明。 (Tā fēicháng cōngming.) — She is extremely intelligent. 今天的比赛非常精彩。 (Jīntiān de bǐsài fēicháng jīngcǎi.) — Today's match was exceptionally spectacular.

非常 is used without 了 at the end. It is more formal than 太...了.

Register: Neutral to formal — suitable in writing and formal speech.

4. 比较 (bǐjiào) — relatively, comparatively, fairly

比较 means "comparatively" — not at an extreme, but more than average or in comparison to something else.

这本书比较难。 (Zhè běn shū bǐjiào nán.) — This book is fairly difficult. (relative to others) 今天比较暖和。 (Jīntiān bǐjiào nuǎnhuo.) — Today is relatively warm. (Tā bǐjiào nèixiàng.) — He is relatively introverted.