All three belong to written, literary Chinese — essays, news, formal speeches — rather than everyday conversation.
1 大為大为 dàwéi — “Greatly”
Always followed by a two-syllable verb or psychological state — 震驚震惊 zhènjīng, 改善 gǎishàn, 讚賞赞赏 zànshǎng, and so on.
這個消息讓大家大為震驚这个消息让大家大为震惊
This news greatly shocked everyone.
新政策實施後，交通狀況大為改善新政策实施后，交通状况大为改善
After the new policy was implemented, traffic conditions greatly improved.
他的表現讓評審大為讚賞他的表现让评审大为赞赏
His performance greatly impressed the judges.
這樣的結果並不會讓人大為意外这样的结果并不会让人大为意外
This kind of result wouldn’t greatly surprise anyone.
這項發現是否會讓科學界大為震動？这项发现是否会让科学界大为震动？
Will this discovery greatly shake the scientific community?
2 分外 fènwài — “Especially” (Poetic)
Carries a sensory or emotional undertone — often describing how a scene or feeling stands out.
雨後的天空顯得分外清澈雨后的天空显得分外清澈
The sky after the rain looked especially clear.
久別重逢，她感到分外親切久别重逢，她感到分外亲切
Reuniting after so long apart, she felt especially close to him.
經歷過那場病之後，他分外珍惜生命经历过那场病之后，他分外珍惜生命
After going through that illness, he especially treasures life.
節日的街道分外熱鬧节日的街道分外热闹
The streets are especially lively during the holidays.
月光下的湖面顯得分外寧靜月光下的湖面显得分外宁静
The lake’s surface under the moonlight looked especially tranquil.
3 何等 héděng — “What A…!”
An exclamatory, rhetorical intensifier — pattern: 何等 héděng + Adjective + 的的 de + Noun, or as a standalone rhetorical question.
何等偉大的犧牲啊！何等伟大的牺牲啊！
What a great sacrifice!
這是何等艱難的抉擇这是何等艰难的抉择
What an incredibly difficult choice this is.
何等諷刺的結局！何等讽刺的结局！
What an ironic ending!
你可知道失去自由是何等痛苦？你可知道失去自由是何等痛苦？
Do you know how painful it is to lose freedom?
你可曾想過，成功的背後是何等的艱辛？你可曾想过，成功的背后是何等的艱辛？
Have you ever thought about what incredible hardship lies behind success?
| Word | Meaning | Structure |
|---|
| 大為大为 dàwéi |
Greatly — always with a 2-syllable verb |
V/Adj phrase + 大為大为 dàwéi + 2-char verb |
| 分外 fènwài |
Especially — poetic, sensory |
S + 分外 fènwài + Adj |
| 何等 héděng |
What a…! — rhetorical exclamation |
何等 héděng + Adj + 的的 de + Noun |
4 Common Mistake
大為大为 dàwéi needs a two-syllable verb after it — a one-syllable verb sounds incomplete.
❌
這個消息讓他大為喜这个消息让他大为喜
✅
這個消息讓他大為欣喜这个消息让他大为欣喜
大為大为 dàwéi almost always pairs with a two-syllable verb like 欣喜欣喜 xīnxǐ, 震驚震惊 zhènjīng, or 改善改善 gǎishàn — a bare one-syllable verb like 喜喜 xǐ sounds cut short.
5 Practice
Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.
01The car accident greatly frightened the child.
車禍讓孩子大為驚恐车祸让孩子大为惊恐
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02The night view here is especially beautiful.
這裡的夜景分外美麗这里的夜景分外美丽
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03What a moving story!
何等感人的故事！何等感人的故事！
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04Will this reform greatly change people’s lives?
這項改革會不會讓人們的生活大為改變？这项改革会不会让人们的生活大为改变？
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05After moving to the countryside, she feels especially at ease.
搬到鄉下後，她感到分外自在搬到乡下后，她感到分外自在
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06What an unfair decision!
這是何等不公平的決定！这是何等不公平的决定！
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07This new discovery didn’t greatly change scientists’ views.
這項新發現並沒有讓科學家大為改觀这项新发现并没有让科学家大为改观
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08The garden looks especially tranquil in the morning.
早晨的花園顯得分外寧靜早晨的花园显得分外宁静
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09What a touching thank-you letter!
何等感人的一封感謝信！何等感人的一封感谢信！
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10The scandal greatly damaged the company’s reputation.
這起醜聞讓公司的聲譽大為受損这起丑闻让公司的声誉大为受损
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