Adverbs for Degree 2 – 特 tè, and 异常 yìcháng

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, both 2 adverbs 特 tè and 異异常 yìcháng are used to express a high degree of something, but they differ in tone, formality, and usage context.

特 tè – Especially, particularly, very

特 tè + Adj or V

特 tè is used to emphasize a certain degree or highlight something as especially true compared to others. It’s commonly used in daily spoken Chinese and is often found in friendly or casual writing.

我wǒ特tè喜歡xǐhuān這zhè家jiā餐廳cāntīng我wǒ特tè喜欢xǐhuan这zhè家jiā餐厅cāntīng
I especially like this restaurant.

他tā今天jīntiān特tè高興gāoxìng他tā今天jīntiān特tè高兴gāoxìng
He’s particularly happy today.

這次zhècì考試kǎoshì特tè難nán！ 这次zhècì考试kǎoshì特tè难nán！
This exam was really hard!

他tā特tè怕pà狗gǒu， 連lián小狗xiǎogǒu都dōu不敢bùgǎn靠近kàojìn他tā特tè怕pà狗gǒu， 连lián小狗xiǎogǒu都dōu不敢bùgǎn靠近kàojìn
He’s especially afraid of dogs, he won’t even go near a puppy.

她tā做zuò的de餃子jiǎozi特tè香xiāng， 你nǐ一定yídìng要yào試試shìshì她tā做zuò的de饺子jiǎozi特tè香xiāng， 你nǐ一定yídìng要yào试试shìshì
The dumplings she made smell especially good, you have to try them.

我wǒ現在xiànzài特tè想xiǎng睡覺shuìjiào， 昨晚zuówǎn沒méi睡shuì好hǎo我wǒ现在xiànzài特tè想xiǎng睡觉shuìjiào， 昨晚zuówǎn没méi睡shuì好hǎo
I’m really sleepy now, didn’t sleep well last night.

📌 “特 tè” is widely used across China, but in places like northeastern China and Beijing, some people say “賊贼 zéi” instead. In Taiwan, people are more likely to use “超 chāo.” All three are casual, commonly used adverbs in everyday spoken Chinese.

異异常 yìcháng – Unusually, extremely, abnormally

異异常 yìcháng + Adj or V

異异常 yìcháng is used to express something that is outside the normal range — unusually high, intense, or unexpected. It carries a more formal or dramatic tone, and sometimes suggests a negative or exaggerated feeling.

This word is commonly used in formal writing to describe emotions, weather, or situations, and often appears in news reports, literature, or official language.

最近zuìjìn天氣tiānqì異常yìcháng炎熱yánrè最近zuìjìn天气tiānqì异常yìcháng炎热yánrè
The weather has been unusually hot lately.

她tā的de表現biǎoxiàn異常yìcháng出色chūsè， 令人lìngrén驚訝jīngyà她tā的de表现biǎoxiàn异常yìcháng出色chūsè， 令人lìngrén惊讶liángyà
Her performance was exceptionally outstanding, and surprising.

他tā今天jīntiān異常yìcháng安靜ānjìng， 是不是shìbúshì有yǒu心事xīnshì？ 他tā今天jīntiān异常yìcháng安静ānjìng， 是不是shìbúshì有yǒu心事xīnshì？
He’s unusually quiet today—maybe something’s bothering him?

這次zhècì颱風táifēng異常yìcháng強烈qiángliè， 大家dàjiā要yào小心xiǎoxīn这次zhècì台风táifēng异常yìcháng强烈qiángliè， 大家dàjiā要yào小心xiǎoxīn
This typhoon is unusually strong, everyone should be careful.

面試miànshì時shí他tā異常yìcháng緊張jǐnzhāng， 一直yìzhí冒汗màohàn面试miànshì时shí他tā异常yìcháng紧张jǐnzhāng， 一直yìzhí冒汗màohàn
He was unusually nervous during the interview and kept sweating.

我wǒ的de狗gǒu今天jīntiān異常yìcháng安靜ānjìng， 是不是shìbúshì在zài做zuò什麼shénme壞事huàishì？ 我wǒ的de狗gǒu今天jīntiān异常yìcháng安静ānjìng， 是不是shìbúshì在zài做zuò什么shénme坏事huàishì？
My dog is unusually quiet today. Maybe she’s up to something?

📌 異异常 yìcháng can also be used as an adjective, typically before a noun, or following a verb, such as in 血壓異压异常 xiěyā yìcháng (blood pressure is abnormal), 表現異现异常 biǎoxiàn yìcháng (to perform abnormally).

• Chinese Adverbs for Degree 1 – 過於过于 guòyú, 稍微 shāowéēi, and 尤其 yóuqí (HSK 5)