Simple "noun + adjective" sentences

In English, nouns can be "linked" to adjectives and other nouns with the verb "to be." In Chinese, nouns are linked to other nouns in one way, but linked to adjectives in a completely different way. Nouns are linked to other nouns with 是 (shì). Nouns are linked to adjectives with 很 (hěn).

Structure

Noun + 很 + Adj.

The noun in this structure is the subject of the sentence. Sometimes the 很 (hěn) in this structure is translated as "very," but often it is just a way to link a noun to an adjective.

Examples

In the following examples, 很 (hěn) is just a link (you could think of it as a substitute for the verb "to be"), and the sentences could be translated as "(Noun) is (adjective)."

• 我 很 好。 Wǒ hěn hǎo.I'm good.
• 你 很 漂亮。 Nǐ hěn piàoliang.You are pretty.
• 他 很 高兴。 Tā hěn gāoxìng.He is happy.
• 中文 很 难。 Zhōngwén hěn nán.Chinese is difficult.
• 老板 很 生气。 Lǎobǎn hěn shēngqì.The boss is angry.
• 我们 很 累。 Wǒmen hěn lèi.We're tired.
• 我 哥哥 也 很 高。 Wǒ gēge yě hěn gāo.My older brother is also tall.
• 你 家 也 很 远 吗？ Nǐ jiā yě hěn yuǎn ma?Is your house also far away?
• 爸爸 很 忙，妈妈 也 很 忙。 Bàba hěn máng, māma yě hěn máng.Dad is busy, and mom is also busy.
• 他 和 他 弟弟 都 很 帅。 Tā hé tā dìdi dōu hěn shuài.He and his younger brother are both handsome.

Remember that 是 (shì) is not used to link adjectives to nouns. This is a classic mistake that almost everyone makes when learning Chinese. Make sure you use 很 (hěn) and not 是 (shì) to link adjectives to nouns, as shown below:

• 他 是 高。Tā shì gāo.
• 他 很 高。 Tā hěn gāo.He is tall.

What 很 (hěn) Really Means

If you're like most learners, when you first learn this pattern, you're thinking, "How can 很 (hěn) mean "very" one minute, but then nothing but a "link" the next? How do I know if anything means anything in this language?" That's a reasonable response. But in the case of these "Noun + Adj." sentences, you just have to think of this usage of 很 (hěn) as an exception. It's just part of the structure.

If you actually want to add the meaning of "very" into the sentence, you could use another adverb instead of 很 (hěn). One good choice is 非常 (fēicháng).

• 他 非常 高 。Tā fēicháng gāo.He is very tall.

See also

• Connecting nouns with "shi"
• Emphasizing with "henshi"

Sources and further reading

Videos

• Yoyo Chinese: "To be" + Adjectives

Books

• Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 56-8) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 44-5) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 126-28) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (pp. 20-1, 143) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed) (pp. 23, 166, 249) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册） (pp. 86) [ →buy]