1 · The basic sentence
Adjectives as predicates
the adjective with hěn, and no shì
An adjective works like a verb on its own; hěn usually stands before it, often meaning no more than “is”.
A Chinese adjective follows the subject directly, without 是: 今天很冷, “it is cold today”. Adjectives behave like verbs — 冷 is “to be cold” — so the “is” is already inside them.
In a plain statement, 很 almost always stands before the adjective. Its dictionary meaning is “very”, but said lightly it means little more than “is”. Without it, a bare adjective sounds like half of a comparison: 今天冷 suggests “today is cold — unlike some other day”. For a real “very”, stress 很 or use 非常, 真 or 太…了.
In the negative, 不 takes the place of 很: 今天不冷, “it is not cold today”. 不很冷 means something else, “not very cold”, and is usually said 不太冷. In a question with 吗, 很 is normally left out too: 今天冷吗？
English speakers make two opposite mistakes. They put 是 before the adjective, because English needs “is”; or they leave the adjective bare, because 很 seems to add a “very” they did not mean. The neutral statement is subject, 很, adjective.
The form
| statement with hěn | 今天很冷。 |
| negative: bù, no hěn | 今天不冷。 |
| question: no hěn | 今天冷吗？ |
| another degree word instead of hěn | 今天非常冷。 |
| a bare adjective: a contrast | 今天冷，昨天热。 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is aboutThe word that calls for it
An adjective follows the subject directly, without shì.
这个苹果很甜。This apple is sweet.
In a plain statement hěn usually stands before the adjective, said lightly.
我很好，谢谢。I'm fine, thanks.
In the negative, bù replaces hěn.
这家饭馆不贵。This restaurant isn't expensive.
In a question with ma, hěn is usually left out.
你忙吗？Are you busy?
An adjective without hěn sounds like one half of a contrast.
哥哥高，弟弟矮。The older brother is tall, the younger one short.
A closer look
How much does hěn mean?
Said lightly and quickly, 很 means almost nothing: 我很好 is simply “I am fine”. Said with stress, it means “very”. Listen to how it is said, and translate it as “very” only when it carries weight.
Other words can stand in its place and each adds a colour: 真, “really”, for an exclamation; 太…了, “too” or “so”; 有点儿, “a bit”, usually about something unwelcome; and in relaxed speech 挺…的, “quite”: 挺好的.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
-
two things are compared with 比
the adjective stands without 很.
今天比昨天冷。Today is colder than yesterday.
比 already says how the two things compare, and “very” would contradict it.
How to spot it
- 很
- 非常
- 太…了
- 真
Example sentences
今天的天气很好。The weather is nice today.
他的汉语非常好。His Chinese is extremely good.
这件衣服太贵了！This is far too expensive!
我今天不累。I'm not tired today.
你的房间大吗？Is your room big?
北京的冬天很冷。Winters in Beijing are cold.
7 more example sentences
这个问题很难。This question is difficult.
她的女儿真可爱！Her daughter is so sweet!
这儿的菜有点儿咸。The food here is a little salty.
今天不太热。It isn't too hot today.
你饿吗？Are you hungry?
他很高，也很帅。He is tall, and handsome too.
我们学校不大，可是很漂亮。Our school is not big, but it is beautiful.
Worth knowing (1)
-
Not very, or very not
The order of 不 and 很 changes the meaning. 不很好 is “not very good”, a mild judgement; 很不好 is “very not good”, that is, really bad.
他今天很不高兴。He is really unhappy today.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
Learners who have just been told that 很 belongs before every adjective keep it in the negative too. But 不 replaces it: 我不忙 is “I am not busy”. With 很 left in, the sentence says “I am not very busy” — a different message, and one usually put as 不太忙.
Subject, hěn, adjective — no shì; and in the negative, bù takes the place of hěn.
Your turn
8 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.