The most commonly used adverbs of degree
Adverbs of degree (程度副词) are used to intensify or modify the degree of an adjective or verb: very, really, extremely.
How to use
We put adverbs of degree before adjectives or verbs that denote feelings and emotions.
Scheme
adverb
adjective/verb
Pay attention
Different adverbs of degree have different degrees of emotional coloring. These adverbs can be arranged by the degree of emotional coloring in the following ascending order):
很 → 太 → 真 → 非常 → 极了
The adverb 很
很 
is the most neutral adverb of degree and often may be omitted while translating. Sometimes it can be used as a link between the subject and the predicate.
is the most neutral adverb of degree and often may be omitted while translating. Sometimes it can be used as a link between the subject and the predicate. Examples
英语很难
English is difficult
yīngyǔ hěn nán
我很喜欢喝咖啡
I like coffee
wǒ hěn xǐhuan hē kāfēi
To make a negation we should put the negative particle 不 either before or after 很, depending on the semantic.
either before or after 很, depending on the semantic.
Examples
价格很不高
The price is not very high
jiàgé hěn bù gāo
价格不很高
The price is not high
jiàgé bù hěn gāo
Pay attention
The combination of 不很 is quite rare. More often we use 不太 .
.
The adverb 太
The adverb 太 comes before the predicate, which may be expressed by a verb or an adjective.
When it comes before words with a negative tone, it is translated as “extremely”. But when it comes before words with a positive tone, it is translated as “very much”.
太 may be used by itself, however more often it is used as part of a construction:
comes before the predicate, which may be expressed by a verb or an adjective.
When it comes before words with a negative tone, it is translated as “extremely”. But when it comes before words with a positive tone, it is translated as “very much”.
太 may be used by itself, however more often it is used as part of a construction:Scheme
太
predicate
了
Examples
你太漂亮了！
You are very beautiful!
nǐ tài piàoliang le
这本书太无聊
This book is extremely boring
zhè běn shū tài wúliáo
The 太…了 construction can also contain an entire verb phrase.
Examples
他太喜欢画画了
He likes to draw very much
tā tài xǐhuan huà huà le
In different contexts, the negative particle may come either before or after 太.
Pay attention
If the negative particle comes before the adverb 太 we should not use the particle 了.
Examples
咖啡不太好喝
Coffee doesn’t taste very good
kāfēi bú tài hǎohē
咖啡太不好喝了
Coffee tastes very bad
kāfēi tài bù hǎohē le
Adverbs 真, 非常
The adverbs 真 and 非常 have the same meaning - “extremely, highly”. They both come before the predicate, which may be expressed by a verb or an adjective.
and 非常 have the same meaning - “extremely, highly”. They both come before the predicate, which may be expressed by a verb or an adjective.
Examples
这是非常重要的信息
This is extremely important information
zhè shì fēicháng zhòngyào de xìnxī
我非常感激
I am very grateful
wǒ fēicháng gǎnjī
这道菜真好吃！
This dish is so delicious!
zhè dào cài zhēn hǎochī
To make a negation with these adverbs we must put the negative particle after them.
Examples
音乐真不好听
The music is really bad
yīnyuè zhēn bù hǎotīng
她非常不开心
She is extremely unhappy
tā fēi cháng bù kāixīn
The adverb 挺
The adverb 挺 is often used in colloquial speech.
挺 should be used with an adjective that has a positive tone, and can be used in a combination with the particle 的 .
is often used in colloquial speech.
挺 should be used with an adjective that has a positive tone, and can be used in a combination with the particle 的 .Examples
她现在挺受欢迎
She is very popular right now
tā xiànzài tǐng shòu huānyíng
我最近挺忙的
I've been quite busy lately
wǒ zuìjìn tǐng máng de
To make a negation we should put the negative particle after 挺.
Examples
学习汉语挺不容易
Learning Chinese is not easy
xuéxí hànyǔ tǐng bù róngyì
The adverb 十分
The adverb 十分 most often used in written language.
most often used in written language.Examples
经济十分萧条
The economy is very weak
jīngjì shífēn xiāotiáo
他们十分重视这个问题
They pay a lot of attention to this issue
tāmen shífēn zhòngshì zhè ge wèntí
The adverb 极
极 is translated as “extremely”, “utmost”.
is translated as “extremely”, “utmost”.
Examples
极有帮助
extremely useful
jí yǒu bāngzhù
这个问题极复杂
This question is extremely difficult
zhè ge wèntí jí fùzá
This adverb is often used at the end of sentence with 了 — 极了.
Pay attention
The phrase 极了, unlike the adverb 极, should be placed after the predicate.
Examples
这幅画儿好看极了
This picture is extremely beautiful
zhè fú huàr hǎokàn jíle
孩子高兴极了
The child is extremely happy
háizi gāoxìng jíle