Degree complements 3

Degree complements, known as 程度補語补语 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 狀態補語状态补语 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

1. 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.

2. 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zhōngyú要yào去qù旅遊lǚyóu了le， 孩子háizi興奮xīngfèn得de不行bùxíng终于zhōngyú要yào去qù旅游lǚyóu了le， 孩子háizi兴奋xīngfèn得de不行bùxíng
Finally, we are going to travel. Our child is very excited!

高中gāozhōng時shí我wǒ對duì英文yīngwén課kè也yě是shì討厭tǎoyàn得de不行bùxíng高中gāozhōng时shí我wǒ对duì英文yīngwén课kè也yě是shì讨厌tǎoyàn得de不行bùxíng
In high school, I hated English classes so much.

我wǒ困kùn得de不行bùxíng了le我wǒ困kùn得de不行bùxíng了le
I’m terribly sleepy.

台灣Táiwān的de夜市yèshì熱鬧rènào得de不行bùxíng台湾Táiwān的de夜市yèshì热闹rènào得de不行bùxíng
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tā年紀niánjì不bù大dà， 但是dànshì脾氣píqì大dà得de要命yàomìng他tā年纪niánjì不bù大dà， 但是dànshì脾气píqi大dà得de要命yàomìng
He is not old, but his temper is extremely bad.

工作gōngzuò最近zuìjìn太tài多duō了le， 我wǒ每天měitiān累lèi得de要死yàosǐ工作gōngzuò最近zuìjìn太tài多duō了le， 我wǒ每天měitiān累lèi得de要死yàosǐ
Too much work lately, I’m extremely tired every day.

去年qùnián他tā女朋友nǚpéngyǒu甩shuǎi了le他tā， 那nà一陣子yízhènzi他tā哭kū得de要死yàosǐ去年qùnián他tā女朋友nǚpéngyou甩shuǎi了le他tā， 那nà一阵子yízhènzi他tā哭kū得de要死yàosǐ
Last year, his girlfriend dumped him, and during that period, he cried as if he were going to die.

你nǐ說shuō你nǐ買mǎi了le愛馬仕àimǎshì的de包bāo？ 那個nàge貴guì得de要命yàomìng的de包bāo？ 你nǐ说shuō你nǐ买mǎi了le爱马仕àimǎshì的de包bāo？ 那个nàge贵guì得de要命yàomìng的de包bāo？
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gāng買mǎi回來huílái的de小狗xiǎogǒu每天měitiān叫jiào個ge不停bùtíng， 你nǐ說shuō我wǒ該gāi怎麼辦zěnmebàn？ 刚gāng买mǎi回来huílái的de小狗xiǎogǒu每天měitiān叫jiào个ge不停bùtíng， 你nǐ说shuō我wǒ该gāi怎么办zěnmebàn？
The puppy I just bought keeps barking every day. What should I do?

我wǒ咳嗽késòu咳ké個ge不停bùtíng， 是不是shìbúshì感染gǎnrǎn了leCovid？ 我wǒ咳嗽késòu咳ké个ge不停bùtíng， 是不是shìbúshì感染gǎnrǎn了leCovid？
I have a cough that won’t stop, am I getting Covid?

他tā只zhǐ要yào提起tíqǐ前女友qiánnǚyǒu就jiù抱怨bàoyuàn個ge沒méi完wán， 大家dàjiā都dōu不想bùxiǎng聽tīng了le他tā只zhǐ要yào提起tíqǐ前女友qiánnǚyǒu就jiù抱怨bàoyuàn个ge没méi完wán， 大家dàjiā都dōu不想bùxiǎng听tīng了le
Whenever he mentions his ex-girlfriend, he complains endlessly. People do not want to hear it anymore.

他tā一yì喝hē起qǐ酒jiǔ就jiù哭鬧kūnào個ge不bù休xiū， 大家dàjiā都dōu很hěn受不了shòubùliǎo他tā一yì喝hē起qǐ酒jiǔ就jiù哭闹kūnào个ge不bù休xiū， 大家dàjiā都dōu很hěn受不了shòubùliǎo
He starts crying and causing a scene whenever he drinks, and everyone can’t stand it.

Common Mistakes

最近zuìjìn天氣tiānqì冷lěng個ge不停bùtíng最近zuìjìn天气tiānqì冷lěng个ge不停bùtíng ❌
The weather has been cold non-stop lately.
(No adjective)

這個zhège機器jīqì停tíng個ge不停bùtíng这个zhège机器jīqì停tíng个ge不停bùtíng ❌
This machine stops all the time.
(No process verbs)

• Degree complements 1 (HSK 3)

• Degree complements 2 (HSK 5)