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chéngdù fùcí
Degree adverbs (程度副词)
Degree adverbs (很, 非常, 太, 真, 最) come before adjectives or some psychological verbs (like 喜欢, 想念) to express how much or to what degree. In affirmative sentences, 很 is often grammatically required before adjective predicates — not just for emphasis, but to make the sentence sound complete.
Exemple de référence
这道菜真好吃！那家店太贵了！我最喜欢周末——同一件事，用不同的程度副词，感觉完全不一样！
Zhè dào cài zhēn hǎochī! Nà jiā diàn tài guì le! Wǒ zuì xǐhuan zhōumò — tóngyī jiàn shì, yòng bùtóng de chéngdù fùcí, gǎnjué wánquán bù yíyàng!
This dish is really delicious! That store is way too expensive! Weekends are my absolute favorite — the same thought, different degree adverbs, completely different feelings!
HSK 1
HSK 1
2
2 structures
10
10 exercices
Résumé de la leçon
Formula: Subject + degree adverb + adjective/psychological verb. Key adverbs: 很 (neutral/required), 非常 (very/extremely), 太…了 (too much), 真 (really/genuine), 最 (the most). Never put degree adverbs before action verbs. 很 before an adjective predicate is often grammatically required, not just emphatic. Model sentence: 今天太冷了！/ 我最喜欢周末。
Degree adverbs express the intensity of an adjective or a psychological verb. The main ones at HSK 1:
- 很 (hěn): the most common degree adverb. In adjectival predicate sentences, 很 is often grammatically necessary — 天气很好 sounds neutral and natural; 天气好 sounds like a comparison (good weather, compared to something). - 非常 (fēicháng): very/extremely, stronger than 很 — 他非常努力 (He's extremely hardworking). - 太 (tài): too/excessively. Usually followed by 了 at the end: 太好了！(Too great! / Fantastic!). 太 alone without 了 can sound like a complaint. - 真 (zhēn): really/truly, used for genuine emotion or surprise — 这个蛋糕真好吃！(This cake is really delicious!) - 最 (zuì): the most (superlative) — 我最喜欢周末 (I love weekends the most).
Key rule: Degree adverbs come BEFORE the adjective or psychological verb. Never put them after.
When NOT to use: Never put 很/真/最 before action verbs. 他很去学校 — 很 cannot modify action verbs like 去, 吃, 买.
很 does NOT always mean 'very': In sentences like 她很高 (She is tall), 很 is grammatically filling the predicate slot — it does not always translate as 'very'. It's more like a default connector between subject and adjective.
Structure grammaticale
Subject + degree adverb + adjective (predicate)
The degree adverb modifies the adjective predicate. In affirmative sentences, a degree adverb is usually required to make the sentence sound natural.
今天外面非常冷，记得穿外套！
Jīntiān wàimiàn fēicháng lěng, jìde chuān wàitào!
It's extremely cold outside today — remember to wear a coat!
这道题太难了，我不会做。
Zhè dào tí tài nán le, wǒ bú huì zuò.
This question is way too difficult — I can't solve it.
很 cannot modify action verbs (去, 吃, 买). It only modifies adjectives and psychological verbs.
太 almost always needs 了 at the end of the sentence when expressing 'too much'. Without 了, the sentence sounds incomplete or like a mid-sentence pause.
Complétez la phrase :
这个菜真好吃，你在哪里学的？
Zhège cài zhēn hǎochī, nǐ zài nǎlǐ xué de?
This dish is really delicious — where did you learn to make it?
Structure grammaticale
Subject + 最 (most) + psychological verb or adjective
最 expresses the superlative (the most, the best, the biggest). It comes before adjectives and psychological verbs like 喜欢, 讨厌, 想.
我最喜欢周末，可以睡懒觉。
Wǒ zuì xǐhuan zhōumò, kěyǐ shuì lǎnjiào.
I love weekends the most — I can sleep in.
她在班里最高。
Tā zài bān lǐ zuì gāo.
She is the tallest in the class.
The location phrase (在班里) comes before the adjective predicate. The word order must be: subject + location + 最 + adjective.