Chinese Adverbs for Degree 12

Posted on by tiffany

OneDotDot Chinese
Grammar · HSK 5
Grammar Point · HSK 5

格外 géwài ・ 极其 jíqí — Formal Intensifiers

格外 géwài singles something out as particularly notable, in a formal or literary register. 极其 jíqí pushes a description to an extreme, and pairs naturally with two-syllable adjectives.

格外 géwài 極其 jíqí degree adverbs

Both are formal, written-register words — you’ll meet them more in news, reports, and literature than in everyday chat.

1 格外 géwài — “Particularly / Especially”

Subject + 格外 géwài + Adjective/Verb — often used in formal or literary contexts.

她tā格外géwài喜欢xǐhuan这zhè个ge礼物lǐwù
She particularly likes this gift.
这zhè次cì的deHSK4考试kǎoshì格外géwài难nán
The HSK4 exam this time was especially difficult.
她tā对duì他tā的de生日shēngrì派对pàiduì感到gǎndào格外géwài兴奋xīngfèn
She was especially excited about his birthday party.
他tā今天jīntiān格外géwài不bù开心kāixīn，不bù知道zhīdào发生fāshēng了le什么shénme事shì
He’s especially unhappy today, I don’t know what happened.
你nǐ会huì不bù会huì觉得juéde这里zhèlǐ的de空气kōngqì格外géwài清新qīngxīn？
Do you think the air here is especially fresh?

2 极其 jíqí — “Extremely” (Formal)

A formal intensifier that usually pairs with two-syllable adjectives — 惊叹, 失望, 出色, and so on.

台湾Táiwān的de美景měijǐng令lìng人rén极其jíqí惊叹jīngtàn
The beautiful scenery of Taiwan is extremely stunning.
人民rénmín对于duìyú政府zhèngfǔ做zuò的de一切yíqiè都dōu极其jíqí失望shīwàng
The people are extremely disappointed with everything the government has done.
这zhè位wèi戏剧xìjù演员yǎnyuán的de表演biǎoyǎn技巧jìqiǎo极其jíqí出色chūsè
This actor’s performance skills are especially outstanding.
这zhè个ge决定juédìng极其jíqí不bú负责任fùzérèn
This decision is extremely irresponsible.
你nǐ是shì不bú是shì觉得juéde这zhè次cì的de挑战tiǎozhàn极其jíqí困难kùnnán？
Do you think this challenge is extremely difficult?
WordMeaningRegister
格外 géwài Particularly / especially Formal, literary
极其 jíqí Extremely Formal — usually with two-syllable adjectives

3 Common Mistake

极其 jíqí sounds most natural in front of a two-syllable adjective. Pairing it with a one-syllable word feels awkward.

❌
这zhè个ge主意zhǔyi极其jíqí好hǎo
✅
这zhè个ge主意zhǔyi极其jíqí优秀yōuxiù
极其 jíqí typically pairs with two-syllable adjectives like 优秀 yōuxiù. For a one-syllable word like 好 hǎo, reach for 非常 fēicháng or 十分 shífēn instead.

4 Practice

Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.

01This year’s harvest was especially plentiful.
今年jīnnián的de收成shōuchéng格外géwài丰富fēngfù
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02Is the government’s plan extremely controversial?
政府zhèngfǔ的de计划jìhuà极其jíqí具jù争议zhēngyì吗ma？
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03This dish is especially spicy.
这zhè道dào菜cài格外géwài辣là
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04The public is extremely dissatisfied with the new policy.
民众mínzhòng对duì新xīn政策zhèngcè极其jíqí不bù满mǎn
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05Isn’t this scenery especially beautiful?
这里zhèlǐ的de景色jǐngsè格外géwài美měi吗ma？
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06His answer was extremely surprising.
他tā的de回答huídá极其jíqí惊人jīngrén
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07She wasn’t especially worried.
她tā并bìng不bù格外géwài担心dānxīn
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08This year’s economic growth is extremely sluggish.
今年jīnnián的de经济jīngjì成长chéngzhǎng极其jíqí缓慢huǎnmàn
👆 Tap to reveal

Related Grammar

→过于 guòyú ・ 较 jiào — Formal Degree Adverbs(HSK 5) →相当 xiāngdāng ・ 可 kě — “Quite” & the Emphatic 可(HSK 5)

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