Adjectival complement "de hen"

The complement -得很 (dehěn) is used after adjectives to add intensity. Although less common in everyday speech, meaning-wise it is quite similar to adding 很 before the adjective. The main difference is that "adjective + 得很" is more informal, and adds stronger emphasis than just "很 + adjective."

Structure

Adj. + 得很

Examples

• 我 好 得 很 ，你 不用 为 我 担心 。 Wǒ hǎo de hěn, nǐ bùyòng wèi wǒ dānxīn.I'm doing great. You don't need to worry about me.
• 你 觉得 不 好吃 ？我 觉得 好吃 得很 。Nǐ juéde bù hǎochī? Wǒ juéde hǎochī de hěn.You don't think it tastes good? I think it's scrumptious.
• 这 个 地方 漂亮 得 很，非常 推荐 你 去 。 Zhège dìfang piàoliang de hěn, fēicháng tuījiàn nǐ qù.This place is gorgeous. I strongly recommend you visit.
• 我 现在 时间 多 得 很 ，你 去 哪儿 我 都 可以 陪 你 去 。 Wǒ xiànzài shíjiān duō de hěn, nǐ qù nǎr wǒ dōu kěyǐ péi nǐ qù.I have loads of free time right now. I can go with you wherever you want to go.
• 不 用 担心，这次 考试 简单 得很。Bùyòng dānxīn, zhè cì kǎoshì jiǎndān de hěn.Don't worry. This test is super simple.
• 离 我 远 点儿 ！我 现在 烦 得很！Lí wǒ yuǎn diǎnr! Wǒ xiànzài fán de hěn!Stay away from me! I'm very stressed right now!
• 你 觉得 他 不 高兴 ？我 看 他 今天 心情 好 得很 ！Nǐ juéde tā bù gāoxìng? Wǒ kàn tā jīntiān xīnqíng hǎo de hěn!You think he's unhappy? From what I see, he's in a great mood today!
• 我 最近 忙 得很，每天 都 要 加班 。Wǒ zuìjìn máng de hěn, měitiān dōu yào jiābān.I've been so busy lately. I need to work overtime every day.
• 高峰期 路上 堵 得很，我 建议 你 上班 坐 地铁。Gāofēng qī lùshàng dǔ de hěn, wǒ jiànyì nǐ shàngbān zuò dìtiě.The traffic is really heavy at rush hour. I recommend you take the subway to work.
• 他 这 个 人 自私 得 很，从来 不 为 别人 考虑。Tā zhège rén zìsī de hěn, cónglái bù wèi biérén kǎolǜ.He's incredibly selfish. He never considers other people.

See also

• Adjectival complement "de budeliao"
• Positive adjectives with "-ji le"
• Negative adjectives with "-si le"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 50-1) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy

HSK5