degree complement in Chinese

Degree complements 2

Posted on by tiffany

Grammar Point:
A “程度补语 chéngdù bǔyǔ” or “degree complement” is used to intensify or modify the degree of an action, the nature of a thing, or the degree reached in a state.

Why do we need it

  1. You can be more precise in your descriptions. There’s no need to use “very,” “super,” or “a little bit” of these general adverbs.
  1. You can describe “how” an action is performed, not just for adjectives. For example, walking quickly, speaking fluently, singing horribly, etc.

Structure

Adj. or Mental verbs + Degree Complements

  • Adj. + 得 + 不得了 bùdéliǎo
  • Adj. + 得 + 慌 huāng
  • Adj. + 得 + 厉害 lìhai

It is used to suggest that a situation is serious or may have terrible consequences. Except for 慌 huāng, the other two can also be used in a positive sense, just like in English, for example, saying “I’m terribly happy. But to be honest, 不得了 bùdéliǎo is the most commonly used expression, while the other two are not as commonly used.

爸爸bàba答应dāyìng去qù公园gōngyuán， 儿子érzi开心kāixīn得de不得了bùdéliǎo
The dad promised to go to the park, and the son is extremely happy.

我wǒ只zhǐ是shì累lèi得de慌huāng， 休息xiūxi一下yíxià就jiù好hǎo了le
I’m just exhausted. I just need to take a rest and I’ll be fine.

这zhè位wèi演员yǎnyuán帅shuài得de不得了bùdéliǎo
This actor is extremely handsome!

因为yīnwèi跟gēn情人qíngrén分手fēnshǒu， 这几天zhèjītiān她tā沮丧jǔsàng得de厉害lìhai
Because she broke up with her lover, she has been feeling extremely depressed these days.

听说tīngshuō要yào打针dǎzhēn他tā害怕hàipà得de厉害lìhai
He was so scared to hear that he’s going to be getting the injection.

他tā爱ài那nà女孩儿nǚháir爱ài得de不得了bùdéliǎo
He loved that girl so much.

V or Adj. + Degree Complements

  • 坏了 huàile
  • 透了 tòule

坏了 huàile is indeed similar to 死了 sǐle and can be used to convey an “extremely” meaning, whether in a positive or negative sense. However, the term 透了 tòule is typically used in negative situations.

这么zhèyāo晚wǎn了le孩子háizi还没háiméi回家huíjiā， 妈妈māma担心dànxīn坏了huàile
It’s so late, and the child hasn’t come home yet. The mother is extremely worried.

发票fāpiào中zhòng了le大dà奖jiǎng， 他tā乐lè坏了huàile
He won the jackpot in the receipt lottery and he was overjoyed.

FYI
In Taiwan, we have this super cool thing called the “receipt lottery” or “uniform invoice lottery” where you can win awesome prizes just by using your purchase receipts! Every two months, the government holds a drawing and announces 5 to 7 winning numbers. And guess what? The biggest prize you can win is a whopping USD 330,000! It’s like hitting the jackpot and getting a mega surprise! So, don’t forget to hold on to those receipts and cross your fingers for some incredible luck in the receipt lottery!

这zhè件jiàn事shì伤shāng透了tòule他的tāde心xīn
This matter has deeply hurt his heart.

面试miànshì又yòu失败shībài了le， 我wǒ心情xīnqíng坏huài透了tòule
I failed another job interview, and I feel extremely down.

V or Adj. + 得 + Description

This one is called a state complement, not a degree complement. The Chinese term for it is 状态补语 zhuàngtài bǔyǔ. Although state complements and degree complements have similar usage and structures, they are classified separately. However, it is common for them to be taught together due to their similarities.

他tā累lèi得de走不动zǒubúdòng了le
He was so tired that he couldn’t walk anymore.

孩子háizi高兴gāoxìng得de跳tiào了le起来qǐlái
The child was so happy that he jumped up.

他tā饱bǎo得de快kuài吐tù了le
He was so full that he almost vomited.

那nà只zhī狗gǒu瘦shòu得de站zhàn不bù起来qǐlái
That dog is so skinny that it can’t stand up.

爸爸bàba气qì得de昏hūn了le过去guòqù
Dad was so angry that he fainted.

第一次dìyīcì看到kàndào雪xuě， 他tā激动jīdòng得de又yòu哭kū又yòu笑xiào
When he saw snow for the first time, he was so excited that he cried and laughed at the same time.

Do you like it? 🙂