Adverbs for degree 13 – 特, 异常 and 较为

Posted on by tiffany

OneDotDot Chinese
Grammar · HSK 6
Grammar Point · HSK 6

特 tè ・ 异常 yìcháng ・ 较为 jiàowéi

Three ways to dial up a description, each pulled from a different shelf: 特 tè is the casual, everyday intensifier; 异常 yìcháng flags something as outside the normal range, often with a dramatic edge; 较为 jiàowéi is the understated, comparative one — “relatively” or “comparatively.”

特 tè 異常 yìcháng 較為 jiàowéi degree adverbs

All three intensify an adjective or verb, but they differ in tone, formality, and context — 特 tè at the dinner table, 异常 yìcháng in the news, and 较为 jiàowéi in a report.

1 特 tè — Especially, Particularly, Very

Used in daily spoken Chinese to emphasize a degree or highlight something as especially true — common in friendly or casual writing.

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高兴gāoxìng
He’s particularly happy today.
这zhè次cì考试kǎoshì特tè难nán！
This exam was really hard!
他tā特tè怕pà狗gǒu，连lián小狗xiǎogǒu都dōu不bù敢gǎn靠近kàojìn
He’s especially afraid of dogs, he won’t even go near a puppy.
她tā做zuò的de饺子jiǎozi特tè香xiāng，你nǐ一定yídìng要yào试试shìshi
The dumplings she made smell especially good, you have to try them.
我wǒ现在xiànzài特tè想xiǎng睡shuì，昨晚zuówǎn没méi睡好shuìhǎo
I’m really sleepy now, didn’t sleep well last night.
Fun Fact

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

2 异常 yìcháng — Unusually, Extremely, Abnormally

Expresses something outside the normal range — a more formal or dramatic tone, sometimes with a negative or exaggerated feeling. Common in news reports, literature, or official language.

最近zuìjìn天气tiānqì异常yìcháng炎热yánrè
The weather has been unusually hot lately.
她tā的de表现biǎoxiàn异常yìcháng出色chūsè，令lìng人rén惊讶jīngyà
Her performance was exceptionally outstanding, and surprising.
他tā今天jīntiān异常yìcháng安静ānjìng，是shì不bù是shì有yǒu心事xīnshì？
He’s unusually quiet today — maybe something’s bothering him?
这zhè次cì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异常yìcháng安静ānjìng，是shì不bù是shì在zài做zuò什么shénme坏事huàishì？
My dog is unusually quiet today. Maybe she’s up to something?
Fun Fact

异常 yìcháng can also be used as an adjective, typically before a noun or following a verb — such as in 血压异常 xiěyā yìcháng (blood pressure is abnormal), 表现异常 biǎoxiàn yìcháng (to perform abnormally).

3 较为 jiàowéi — Relatively, Comparatively

Implies a comparison without naming what’s being compared to — understated and objective, showing up in reports, news, and formal descriptions rather than casual chat.

这zhè款kuǎn手机shǒujī的de价格jiàgé较为jiàowéi合理hélǐ
This phone’s price is relatively reasonable.
今年jīnnián的de夏天xiàtiān较为jiàowéi凉爽liángshuǎng
This year’s summer has been relatively cool.
这zhè篇piān报告bàogào的de内容nèiróng较为jiàowéi详细xiángxì
This report’s content is relatively detailed.
他tā的de个性gèxìng较为jiàowéi内向nèixiàng，不bù太tài喜欢xǐhuan社交shèjiāo
He’s relatively introverted and doesn’t like socializing much.
这zhè个ge地区dìqū的de治安zhìān较为jiàowéi稳定wěndìng
Public safety in this area is relatively stable.
这zhè次cì的de谈判tánpàn进行jìnxíng得de较为jiàowéi顺利shùnlì
This round of negotiations went relatively smoothly.
Fun Fact

较为 jiàowéi is a formal, written cousin of 比较 bǐjiào. Native speakers almost never say it out loud in casual conversation — it belongs on a page, not in a chat.

4 Common Mistakes

Most errors come from picking the wrong register — using a formal-writing word in a chat, or a chat word in a report.

❌
诶éi，我wǒ觉得juéde这zhè家jiā店diàn较为jiàowéi好吃hǎochī
✅
诶éi，我wǒ觉得juéde这zhè家jiā店diàn比较bǐjiào好吃hǎochī
较为 jiàowéi belongs to formal or written Chinese — reports, news, official statements. In everyday spoken Chinese, 比较 bǐjiào is the natural, casual choice.
❌
根据gēnjù报告bàogào，此cǐ区域qūyù的de犯罪率fànzuìlǜ特tè高gāo
✅
根据gēnjù报告bàogào，此cǐ区域qūyù的de犯罪率fànzuìlǜ异常yìcháng高gāo
特 tè is casual and spoken. Formal writing like news reports or official documents calls for 异常 yìcháng or 较为 jiàowéi instead.
WordMeaningRegister & Tone
特 tè Especially, very Casual, spoken, warm and friendly
异常 yìcháng Unusually, abnormally Formal, dramatic — news, literature, official language
较为 jiàowéi Relatively, comparatively Formal, neutral — reports and formal descriptions

5 Practice

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

01She’s especially good at drawing.
她tā特tè会huì画画huàhuà
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02He was unusually calm during the crisis.
危机wēijī发生fāshēng时shí，他tā异常yìcháng冷静lěngjìng
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03This year’s sales figures are relatively good.
今年jīnnián的de销售xiāoshòu数字shùzì较为jiàowéi理想lǐxiǎng
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04This soup is especially spicy.
这zhè碗wǎn汤tāng特tè辣là
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05The number of applicants this year is unusually high.
今年jīnnián的de申请shēnqǐng人数rénshù异常yìcháng多duō
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06The process of applying for the visa was relatively complicated.
申请shēnqǐng签证qiānzhèng的de过程guòchéng较为jiàowéi复杂fùzá
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07I’m especially tired today.
我wǒ今天jīntiān特tè累lèi
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08The river’s water level is unusually low this year.
今年jīnnián河流héliú的de水位shuǐwèi异常yìcháng低dī
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09The neighborhood is relatively quiet at night.
这zhè个ge社区shèqū晚上wǎnshàng较为jiàowéi安静ānjìng
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10He’s especially picky about food.
他tā对duì吃chī的de东西dōngxi特tè挑tiāo
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Related Grammar

→相当 xiāngdāng ・ 可 kě — “Quite” & the Emphatic 可(HSK 5) →格外 géwài ・ 极其 jíqí — Formal Intensifiers(HSK 5)

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