Chinese Adverbs for Degree 1

Grammar Point:
過於过于 guòyú, 稍微 shāowéēi, and 尤其 yóuqí are three adverbs that express degree in Chinese. They help convey different levels of intensity, slight changes, and emphasis in a sentence.

• 過於过于 guòyú means “excessively” and is used when something goes beyond an acceptable level.
• 稍微 shāowéēi means “slightly” and is used to tone down the intensity of an action or description.
• 尤其 yóuqí means “especially” and highlights a specific aspect or example from a general statement.

Structure

過於过于 guòyú / 稍微 shāowéēi + V or Adj

稍微 shāowéēi can be used with a verb with or without 一下 yíxià or 一點点 yìdiǎn. However, adding 一下 yíxià or 一點点 yìdiǎn makes the action sound softer and more polite, which is common in spoken Chinese.

這zhè個ge問題wèntí過於guòyú複雜fùzá， 我們wǒmen需要xūyào更gèng多duō時間shíjiān討論tǎolùn这zhè个ge问题wèntí过于guòyú复杂fùzá， 我们wǒmen需要xūyào更gèng多duō时间shíjiān讨论tǎolùn
This problem is too complicated; we need more time to discuss it.

他tā過於guòyú自信zìxìn， 結果jiéguǒ犯fàn了le很hěn多duō錯誤cuòwù他tā过于guòyú自信zìxìn， 结果jiéguǒ犯fàn了le很hěn多duō错误cuòwù
He was overly confident and ended up making many mistakes.

這zhè件jiàn衣服yīfú過於guòyú緊jǐn了le， 你nǐ換huàn大dà一yí號hào吧ba这zhè件jiàn衣服yīfu过于guòyú紧jǐn了le， 你nǐ换huàn大dà一yí号hào吧ba
This piece of clothing is too tight; you should change to a bigger size.

你nǐ能néng稍微shāowéi等děng一下yíxià嗎ma？ 你nǐ能néng稍微shāowēi等děng一下yíxià吗ma？
Can you wait a little bit?

今天jīntiān稍微shāowéi冷lěng了le一點yìdiǎn， 記得jìdé穿chuān外套wàitào今天jīntiān稍微shāowēi冷lěng了le一点yìdiǎn， 记得jìdé穿chuān外套wàitào
It’s a little cold today; remember to wear a coat.

我們wǒmen可以kěyǐ稍微shāowéi休息xiūxí一下yíxià再zài出發chūfā我们wǒmen可以kěyǐ稍微shāowēi休息xiūxi一下yíxià再zài出发chūfā
We can take a short break before heading out.

稍微shāowéi休息xiūxí就jiù可以kěyǐ繼續jìxù工作gōngzuò了le稍微shāowēi休息xiūxi就jiù可以kěyǐ继续jìxù工作gōngzuò了le
A short break is enough to continue working.

General statement, 尤其 yóuqí + specific example

這zhè家jiā餐廳cāntīng的de菜cài都dōu很hěn好吃hǎochī， 尤其yóuqí是shì北京烤鴨běijīngkǎoyā这zhè家jiā餐厅cāntīng的de菜cài都dōu很hěn好吃hǎochī， 尤其yóuqí是shì北京烤鸭běijīngkǎoyā
The dishes at this restaurant are all delicious, especially the Peking duck.

他tā對duì中國Zhōngguó文化wénhuà很hěn感興趣gǎnxìngqù， 尤其yóuqí喜歡xǐhuān中國Zhōngguó歷史lìshǐ他tā对duì中国Zhōngguó文化wénhuà很hěn感兴趣gǎnxìngqù， 尤其yóuqí喜欢xǐhuan中国Zhōngguó历史lìshǐ
He is very interested in Chinese culture, especially Chinese history.

這zhè座zuò城市chéngshì的de風景fēngjǐng很hěn美měi， 尤其yóuqí是shì秋天qiūtiān的de時候shíhòu这zhè座zuò城市chéngshì的de风景fēngjǐng很hěn美měi， 尤其yóuqí是shì秋天qiūtiān的de时候shíhou
This city has beautiful scenery, especially in autumn.

這zhè部bù電影diànyǐng很hěn好看hǎokàn， 尤其yóuqí是shì結局jiéjú， 讓ràng人rén印象yìnxiàng深刻shēnkè这zhè部bù电影diànyǐng很hěn好看hǎokàn， 尤其yóuqí是shì结局jiéjú， 让ràng人rén印象yìnxiàng深刻shēnkè
This movie is really good, especially the ending, which is very impressive.

學xué中文zhōngwén的de時候shíhòu， 有沒有yǒuméiyǒu老師lǎoshī幫助bāngzhù差chā很hěn多duō， 尤其yóuqí針對zhēnduì初學者chūxuézhě学xué中文zhōngwén的de时候shíhou， 有没有yǒuméiyǒu老师lǎoshī帮助bāngzhù差chà很hěn多duō， 尤其yóuqí针对zhēnduì初学者chūxuézhě
Having or not having a teacher makes a big difference when learning Chinese, especially for beginners.

• Chinese Adverbs for Degree 2 – 特 tè and 異异常 yìcháng (HSK 6)