Degree Complements – 得很, 極了, 得不得了

What is a Degree Complement?

A degree complement tells how strong or to what extent something is. It answers questions like:

“How hot?” “How happy?” “How busy?”

In Chinese, degree complements usually come after adjectives or stative verbs (verbs that describe a state, like 忙 máng busy, 累 lèi tired, or 喜歡欢 xǐhuān like).

得很 de hěn — very / quite

Used to show a normal or medium level of something. It’s like saying “very” or “quite” in English.

今天jīntiān冷lěng得de很hěn今天jīntiān冷lěng得de很hěn
It’s quite cold today.

這zhè家jiā咖啡廳kāfēitīng安靜ānjìng得de很hěn， 我wǒ常cháng在zài這裡zhèlǐ寫xiě作業zuòyè这zhè家jiā咖啡厅kāfēitīng安静ānjìng得de很hěn， 我wǒ常cháng在zài这里zhèlǐ写xiě作业zuòyè
This café is very quiet, I often do homework here.

他tā忙máng得de很hěn， 連lián吃飯chīfàn的de時間shíjiān都dōu沒有méiyǒu他tā忙máng得de很hěn， 连lián吃饭chīfàn的de时间shíjiān都dōu没有méiyǒu
He’s very busy, he doesn’t even have time to eat.

極极了 jíle — extremely / so…

Used to show a very high degree. It’s like saying “extremely” or “so…!” in English.

外面wàimiàn冷lěng極jí了le！ 外面wàimiàn冷lěng极jí了le！
It’s freezing cold outside!

那nà隻zhī小狗xiǎogǒu可愛kěài極jí了le， 我wǒ想xiǎng帶dài回家huíjiā！ 那nà只zhǐ小狗xiǎogǒu可爱kěài极jí了le， 我wǒ想xiǎng带dài回家huíjiā！
That puppy is super cute, I want to take it home!

這zhè碗wǎn牛肉麵niúròumiàn好吃hǎochī極jí了le！ 这zhè碗wǎn牛肉面niúròumiàn好吃hǎochī极jí了le！
This beef noodle soup is extremely delicious!

得不得了 de bùdéliǎo — incredibly / terribly

This one means “to an unbelievable degree.” It can be positive or negative, depending on the adjective.

外面wàimiàn冷lěng得de不得了bùdéliǎo！外面wàimiàn冷lěng得de不得了bùdéliǎo！
It’s terribly cold outside!

那nà部bù電影diànyǐng好看hǎokàn得de不得了bùdéliǎo， 我wǒ想xiǎng再zài看kàn一次yícì那nà部bù电影diànyǐng好看hǎokàn得de不得了bùdéliǎo， 我wǒ想xiǎng再zài看kàn一次yícì
That movie was so good, I want to watch it again!

我wǒ累lèi得de不得了bùdéliǎo， 昨天zuótiān只zhǐ睡shuì了le三sān個ge小時xiǎoshí我wǒ累lèi得de不得了bùdéliǎo， 昨天zuótiān只zhǐ睡shuì了le三sān个ge小时xiǎoshí
I’m terribly tired, I only slept three hours last night.

Actually, these three complements are not commonly used in Taiwan. People in Taiwan tend to use “adj + 死了 sǐle” instead.

很冷 hěn lěng vs 冷得很 lěng de hěn

很 hěn / 非常 fēicháng + adj → describe fact → neutral tone

今天jīntiān非常fēicháng熱rè， 記得jìdé多duō喝水hēshuǐ今天jīntiān非常fēicháng热rè， 记得jìdé多duō喝水hēshuǐ
It’s very hot today, remember to drink water.

Adj + 得很 dehěn / 極了 jíle / 得不得了 de bùdéliǎo → describe feeling → emotional tone

今天jīntiān熱rè得de不得了bùdéliǎo， 我wǒ快kuài變biàn烤kǎo雞jī了le！ 今天jīntiān热rè得de不得了bùdéliǎo， 我wǒ快kuài变biàn烤kǎo鸡jī了le！
It’s unbearably hot. I’m turning into roast chicken!