HSK 1 grammar · new HSK syllabus
很 + adjective: describing things
Adjectives work like verbs, usually with 很 before them: 我很忙. No 是 needed.
Structure
- Subject + 很 + adjective
How it works
In Chinese, an adjective can be the main part of the sentence without 是: 我很忙, 这个很贵.
In a simple statement, 很 usually goes before the adjective even when you don’t mean “very”. Without it, the sentence sounds like a comparison: 这个贵 (this one is the expensive one).
Other words in the same position: 非常 extremely, 太…了 too, 真 really, 不 not.
Examples
-
我很忙。
Wǒ hěn máng.
I’m busy.
-
今天很冷。
Jīntiān hěn lěng.
It’s cold today.
-
这个饭店非常好。
Zhège fàndiàn fēicháng hǎo.
This restaurant is excellent.
-
他的汉语真好！
Tā de Hànyǔ zhēn hǎo!
His Chinese is really good!
-
那个手机不贵。
Nàge shǒujī bú guì.
That phone isn’t expensive.
Words in these examples (17)
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 很 | hěn | very | HSK 1 |
| 忙 | máng | busy | HSK 1 |
| 今天 | jīntiān | today | HSK 1 |
| 冷 | lěng | cold | HSK 1 |
| 这个 | zhège | this one | HSK 1 |
| 饭店 | fàndiàn | restaurant; hotel | HSK 1 |
| 非常 | fēicháng | very; extremely | HSK 1 |
| 好 | hǎo | good; well | HSK 1 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 的 | de | (particle linking a describer to a noun, like "'s") | HSK 1 |
| 汉语 | Hànyǔ | Chinese (language) | HSK 1 |
| 真 | zhēn | really; truly | HSK 1 |
| 那个 | nàge | that one | HSK 1 |
| 手机 | shǒujī | mobile phone | HSK 1 |
| 不 | bù | not; no | HSK 1 |
| 贵 | guì | expensive | HSK 1 |
Common mistakes
-
✗他是很高。
✓他很高。
No 是 before adjectives.
-
✗她漂亮。（as a plain statement）
✓她很漂亮。
A plain statement usually needs 很.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 我今天 累。
2. 这个菜 好吃！
3. 他 高，我很高。