Degree complements 1

Grammar Point:
A 程度補語补语 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. (We will discuss this further in degree complement 2.)

2. You can describe “how” an action is performed, not just for adjectives. For example, walking quickly, speaking fluently, singing horribly, etc.

Structure

V + 得 de + Degree Complement

得 de serves as a particle that indicates the degree or result of an action.

你nǐ走zǒu得de很hěn快kuài你nǐ走zǒu得de很hěn快kuài
You’re walking fast.

他tā睡shuì得de非常fēicháng好hǎo他tā睡shuì得de非常fēicháng好hǎo
He slept very well.

媽媽māma的de飯fàn做zuò得de很hěn好吃hǎochī妈妈māma的de饭fàn做zuò得de很hěn好吃hǎochī
Mom’s cooking is very good.

他tā說shuō中文zhōngwén說shuō得de很hěn好hǎo他tā说shuō中文zhōngwén说shuō得de很hěn好hǎo
He speaks Chinese very well.

Adj. or Mental verbs + Degree Complement

• 得很 de hěn
• 極极了 jí le
• 死了 sǐ le

極极了 jíle means “extremely” in English, while 死了 sǐle literally translates to “died.” Although 死了 sǐle may seem like a very negative description, it has a neutral connotation in Chinese. Therefore, it can be used to emphasize or exaggerate both negative and positive situations.

他們tāmen今天jīntiān忙máng得de很hěn他们tāmen今天jīntiān忙máng得de很hěn
They are very busy today.

今天jīntiān天氣tiānqì熱rè死sǐ了le今天jīntiān天气tiānqì热rè死sǐ了le
It’s hot as hell today.

他tā唱歌chànggē難聽nántīng極jí了le他tā唱歌chànggē难听nántīng极jí了le
He sings so badly.

他tā在zài路lù上shàng撿jiǎn到dào錢qián， 高興gāoxìng死sǐ了le他tā在zài路lù上shang捡jiǎn到dào钱qián， 高兴gāoxìng死sǐ了le
He found money on the road and was extremely happy.

FYI
In Taiwan and China, it is believed that if you come across a red envelope or a bundle of money on the road, you should not pick it up. Why? Well, it is said that the red envelope on the roadside may contain not just money but also the memorial photo and hair of a deceased girl. If you pick it up, it is believed to be equivalent to engaging in a marriage proposal with a ghost bride. In traditional customs, it is believed that ghost marriage is one of the most effective ways to provide solace to spirits, especially those who passed away without getting married and held aspirations for a loving relationship. Once you pick up the red envelope, the family of the deceased spirit might come forward and ask you to marry their ghost child. While you can refuse, usually the ghost spirit will continue to follow you, causing your health to deteriorate and your luck to worsen over time.

我wǒ對duì動物dòngwù討厭tǎoyàn得de很hěn我wǒ对duì动物dòngwù讨厌tǎoyàn得de很hěn
I hate animals so much.

這zhè遊戲yóuxì孩子háizi們men喜歡xǐhuān極jí了le这zhè游戏yóuxì孩子háizi们men喜欢xǐhuan极jí了le
This game is very popular among children.

你nǐ做zuò的de菜cài， 我wǒ真的zhēnde愛ài死sǐ了le你nǐ做zuò的de菜cài， 我wǒ真的zhēnde爱ài死sǐ了le
I really love your cooking!

Question

To turn a degree complement into a question, you can either add 嗎吗 ma or 怎麽樣么样 zěnmeyàng at the end of the sentence.

他tā唱chàng得de好hǎo嗎ma？ 他tā唱chàng得de好hǎo吗ma？
Did he sing well?

他tā唱chàng得de怎麽樣zěnmeyàng？ 他tā唱chàng得de怎麽样zěnmeyàng？
How did he sing?

台灣人Táiwānrén說shuō中文zhōngwén說shuō得de快kuài嗎ma？ 台湾人Táiwānrén说shuō中文zhōngwén说shuō得de快kuài吗ma？
Do Taiwanese speak Chinese fast?

今天jīntiān天氣tiānqì怎麼樣zěnmeyàng？ 今天jīntiān天气tiānqì怎么样zěnmeyàng？
How’s the weather today?

• Degree complements 2 (HSK 5)

• Degree complements 3 (HSK 7-9)