Degree complements, known as 程度补语 chéngdù bǔyǔ, are used to intensify or modify the degree of an action, the nature of a thing, or the degree of a state that has been reached.
State complements, referred to as 状态补语 zhuàngtài bǔyǔ, describe the state that an action has reached.
The usage and structures of both complements are very similar, so it is recommended to learn them together.
Why do we need it
- You can be more precise in your description. Don’t need to use very, super, or a little bit of these kinds of general adverbs.
- You can describe “how” on the verbs, not just the adjectives. Such as, walking fast, speaking well, singing terribly, etc.
Structure
Adj. or V + 得 + 不行
awfully; extremely; terribly
終於要去旅遊了,孩子興奮得不行终于要去旅游了,孩子兴奋得不行
Finally, we are going to travel. Our child is very excited!
高中時我對英文課也是討厭得不行高中时我对英文课也是讨厌得不行
In high school, I hated English classes so much.
我困得不行了我困得不行了
I’m terribly sleepy.
台灣的夜市熱鬧得不行台湾的夜市热闹得不行
Taiwan’s night markets are bustling and lively.
Adj. or V + 得 + 要命 or 要死
extremely; terribly; incredibly
The adjective being modified by these complements can only be monosyllabic.
他年紀不大,但是脾氣大得要命他年纪不大,但是脾气大得要命
He is not old, but his temper is extremely bad.
工作最近太多了,我每天累得要死工作最近太多了,我每天累得要死
Too much work lately, I’m extremely tired every day.
去年他女朋友甩了他,那一陣子他哭得要死去年他女朋友甩了他,那一阵子他哭得要死
Last year, his girlfriend dumped him, and during that period, he cried as if he were going to die.
你說你買了愛馬仕的包?那個貴得要命的包?你说你买了爱马仕的包?那个贵得要命的包?
You said you bought a Hermès bag? That incredibly expensive bag?
V + 個/个 + Neg-
This pattern indicates an action happening non-stop, which means that it can only be used with action verbs that can continue for a while, and not with adjectives (such as happy, sad, excited, disappointed, etc.) or stative verbs (such as die, appear, stop, start, hurt, etc.). Additionally, this pattern carries a negative connotation.
剛買回來的小狗每天叫個不停,你說我該怎麼辦?刚买回来的小狗每天叫个不停,你说我该怎么办?
The puppy I just bought keeps barking every day. What should I do?
我咳嗽咳個不停,是不是感染了Covid?我咳嗽咳个不停,是不是感染了Covid?
I have a cough that won’t stop, am I getting Covid?
他只要提起前女友就抱怨個沒完,大家都不想聽了他只要提起前女友就抱怨个没完,大家都不想听了
Whenever he mentions his ex-girlfriend, he complains endlessly. People do not want to hear it anymore.
他一喝起酒就哭鬧個不休,大家都很受不了他一喝起酒就哭闹个不休,大家都很受不了
He starts crying and causing a scene whenever he drinks, and everyone can’t stand it.
Common Mistakes
最近天氣冷個不停最近天气冷个不停 ❌
The weather has been cold non-stop lately.
(No adjective)
這個機器停個不停这个机器停个不停 ❌
This machine stops all the time.
(No process verbs)
- Degree complements 1 (HSK 3)
- Degree complements 2 (HSK 5)