Difference between revisions of "Degree complement"

m (Text replacement - "{{HSK|HSK2}}" to "{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}")
 
(41 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 2: Line 2:
 
{{AKA|程度补语 (chéngdù bǔyǔ)|complement of degree}}
 
{{AKA|程度补语 (chéngdù bǔyǔ)|complement of degree}}
  
While most [[complement]]s follow [[verb]]s, degree complements very often follow [[adjective]]s.  They intensify or in some other way modify the degree of expression of the adjective (or verb).
+
While most [[complement]]s follow [[verb]]s, degree complements can follow both verbs and [[adjective]]s.  These complements intensify or modify the degree of expression of the verb or adjective.
  
== When to Use Degree Complements ==
+
== When to use it ==
  
Until now, you may have probably been getting by just fine modifying your verbs with adverbs. You can use 非常 to say "very" and all that. Great. But once you learn to use degree complements, a whole new layer of expressiveness is infused into your language. You will be able to express '''degree''' of verbs and adjectives with much more precision and color. But how do you know ''when to use'' the degree complement?  Here are the main reasons to use it:
+
Until now, you may have been getting by just fine modifying your verbs with adverbs. You can use 非常 to say "very" and all that. Great. But once you learn to use degree complements, a whole new layer of expressiveness is infused into your language. You will be able to express '''degree''' of verbs and adjectives with much more precision and color. But how do you know ''when to use'' the degree complement?  Here are the main reasons to use it:
  
# To express '''how''' a [[verbs|verb]] happened or assess its quality
+
1. To express '''how''' a [[verbs|verb]] happened or assess its quality
# To express '''to what extent''' (or degree) an [[adjectives|adjective]] is true
+
 
 +
2. To express '''to what extent''' (or degree) an [[adjectives|adjective]] is true
  
 
For the first case, the most typical examples would be describing ''how well'' an action is done, or in ''asking'' how well an action is done, which are sometimes also classified as [[descriptive complement]]s and [[state complement]]s.
 
For the first case, the most typical examples would be describing ''how well'' an action is done, or in ''asking'' how well an action is done, which are sometimes also classified as [[descriptive complement]]s and [[state complement]]s.
Line 15: Line 16:
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
*你们 觉得 我 画 <em>得 怎么样</em> ?<span class="expl">The complement is used to ask "how well I draw."</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐmen juéde wǒ huà <em>de zěnmeyàng</em>?</span>
 
*你们 觉得 我 画 <em>得 怎么样</em> ?<span class="expl">The complement is used to ask "how well I draw."</span><span class="pinyin">Nǐmen juéde wǒ huà <em>de zěnmeyàng</em>?</span>
*我们 觉得 你 画 <em>得 很 好</em> 。<span class="expl">The complement tells us that "I draw very well."</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen juéde nǐ huà <em>de hěn hǎo</em>.</span>
+
*我们 觉得 你 画 <em>得 很 好</em> 。<span class="expl">The complement tells us that "you draw very well."</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒmen juéde nǐ huà <em>de hěn hǎo</em>.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
*他 英语 说 <em>得 怎么样</em> ? <span class="expl">The complement is used to ask "how well he speaks English."</span><span class="pinyin">Tā de Yīngyǔ shuō <em>de zěnmeyàng</em>?</span>
+
*他 英语 说 <em>得 怎么样</em> ? <span class="expl">The complement is used to ask "how well he speaks English."</span><span class="pinyin">Tā Yīngyǔ shuō <em>de zěnmeyàng</em>?</span>
*他 英语 说 <em>得 一般</em> 。 <span class="expl">The complement tells us that "His English is average."</span><span class="pinyin">Tā de Yīngyǔ shuō <em>de yībān</em>.</span>
+
*他 英语 说 <em>得 一般</em> 。 <span class="expl">The complement tells us that "His English is average."</span><span class="pinyin">Tā Yīngyǔ shuō <em>de yībān</em>.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
For the second case, instead of using the good old standby adverbs 很 and 非常, we can use all kinds of degree complements to spice up our adjective. A few more similar patterns will be introduced below.
+
== Basic Pattern Following Verbs ==
  
A few more examples:
+
We can use all kinds of degree complements to add some color to our verbs.
 +
 
 +
=== Structure ===
  
<div class="liju">
+
<div class="jiegou">
*她 长 <em>得 不 好看</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Tā zhǎng <em>de bù hǎokàn</em>.</span><span class="trans">She is unattractive.</span>
+
Verb + + [Degree Complement]
*你 想 <em>得 太 复杂</em> 了 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zěnme xiǎng <em>de zhème fùzá</em>? </span><span class="trans">You're overthinking it.</span>
 
*奶奶 走 <em>很 慢</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Nǎinai zǒu <em>de hěn màn</em>.</span><span class="trans">Grandma walks very slowly.</span>
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Descriptive and State Complements ==
+
=== Examples ===
  
Not every aspect of Chinese grammar is agreed upon in the world of academia, and this is the case with degree complements, [[descriptive complement]]s, and [[state complement]]s. Some scholars hold that the three are distinct, while others posit they're all just types of degree complements. Still others maintain that degree complements are one, and descriptive complements and state complements are also one.
+
<div class="liju">
  
Here's how a professor of Chinese at Yale puts it<ref>See the article [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/mandarin/content/degree/grammar/Degree-1.htm What is the complement of degree?] by Ling Mu, Rongzhen Li, and Peisong Xu.</ref>:
+
*你 做 <em>得 不错</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zuò <em>de bùcuò</em>.</span><span class="trans">You're doing a great job.</span>
 +
*孩子们 学  <em>得 挺 快 的</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Háizi men xué <em>de tǐng kuài de</em>.</span><span class="trans">The kids are learning fast.</span>
 +
*我 吃 <em>得 太 饱了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ chī <em>de tài bǎo le</em>.</span><span class="trans">I'm stuffed.</span>
 +
*你们 谈 <em>得 顺利</em> 吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen tán <em>de shùnlì</em> ma?</span><span class="trans">Did your conversation go well?</span>
 +
*她 长 <em>得 还 可以</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Tā zhǎng <em>de hái kěyǐ</em>.</span><span class="trans">She is all right-looking.</span>
  
<blockquote>
+
</div>
Generally speaking, the complement of degree is a grammatical unit that describes the main verb of the sentence. Specifically, the complement of degree is an assessment of an action or a description of the consequential state of an action. It may also be a description of the degree of a state.
 
</blockquote>
 
 
 
Okayyy, so it sounds like descriptions and states are all degree complements? That's one of the views on the issue.
 
 
 
None of these classifications truly matters though: the key is ''understanding'' them and ''using'' complements correctly to express yourself in Chinese. (This is already difficult without adding in unnecessary academic distinctions!)
 
  
 
== Degree Complements with Objects ==
 
== Degree Complements with Objects ==
Line 51: Line 50:
 
Both adding a complement to a verb with an object and adding an objective to a verb with a complement  complicate a sentence in Mandarin, because ''a single verb cannot be followed by both an object and a complement''. In order to get all three pieces of information into a grammatically correct Chinese sentence, there are two approaches to take:
 
Both adding a complement to a verb with an object and adding an objective to a verb with a complement  complicate a sentence in Mandarin, because ''a single verb cannot be followed by both an object and a complement''. In order to get all three pieces of information into a grammatically correct Chinese sentence, there are two approaches to take:
  
Approach #1: Repeat the Verb
+
'''Approach #1: Repeat the Verb'''
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
Line 59: Line 58:
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
Make sure that the object comes after the first instance of the verb, and the complement after the second.
+
Just like little kids, objects and complements don't know how to share. Make sure each gets its own (identical) verb. Also make sure that the object comes after the first instance of the verb, and the complement after the second.
  
Approach #2: Move the Object to the Front
+
'''Approach #2: Move the Object to the Front'''
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
Line 68: Line 67:
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>
 +
 +
Note: the 你的中文 in the sentence above can also be 你中文 (without the 的). When it makes sense to include the 的, it often sounds better.
  
 
Just to be completely clear, the following sentences are both ''incorrect'':  
 
Just to be completely clear, the following sentences are both ''incorrect'':  
Line 73: Line 74:
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
<li class="x">你 <strong>说</strong> 中文 <em>很 好</em> 。</li>
+
<li class="x">你 <strong>说</strong> 中文 <em>很 好</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ shuō <strong>Zhōngwén</strong> <em>hěn hǎo</em>.</span></li>
<li class="x">你 <strong>说</strong> 中文 <em>得 很 好</em> 。</li>
+
<li class="x">你 <strong>说</strong> 中文 <em>得 很 好</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ shuō <strong>Zhōngwén</strong> <em>de hěn hǎo</em>.</span></li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>
Line 81: Line 82:
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
*你 <strong>做菜</strong> 做 <em>得 很 好</em> 。<span class="trans">You cook very well.</span>
+
*你 <strong></strong> 菜 <strong>做</strong> <em>得 很 好</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <strong>zuò</strong> cài <strong>zuò</strong> <em>de hěn hǎo</em>.</span><span class="trans">You cook very well.</span>
*你 的 <strong>菜</strong> 做 <em>得 很 好</em> 。<span class="trans">You cook very well.</span>
+
*你 的 <strong>菜</strong> 做 <em>得 很 好</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de <strong>cài</strong> zuò <em>de hěn hǎo</em>.</span><span class="trans">You cook very well.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
*你 <strong>写字</strong> 写 <em>得 很 漂亮</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <strong>xiězì</strong> xiě <em>de hěn piàoliang</em>.</span><span class="trans">You handwriting is beautiful.</span>
+
*你 <strong></strong> 字 <strong>写</strong> <em>得 很 漂亮</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <strong>xiě</strong> zì <strong>xiě</strong> <em>de hěn piàoliang</em>.</span><span class="trans">Your handwriting is beautiful.</span>
*你 的 <strong>字</strong> 写 <em>得 很 漂亮</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de <strong>zì</strong> xiě <em>de hěn piàoliang</em>.</span><span class="trans">You handwriting is beautiful.</span>
+
*你 的 <strong>字</strong> 写 <em>得 很 漂亮</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de <strong>zì</strong> xiě <em>de hěn piàoliang</em>.</span><span class="trans">Your handwriting is beautiful.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
Line 97: Line 98:
  
 
<ol>
 
<ol>
<li>[[Adjectives with "-ji le"|极了]] (like 好), indicating an extremely high degree.</li>
+
<li>[[Adjectives with "-ji le"|极了]] often comes after adjectives with positive connotations (often 好), indicating an extremely high degree.</li>
  
<li>[[Negative adjectives with "-si le"|死了]] usually comes after adjectives with negative connotations (like 忙, 累, 臭, 难看), and are commonly used to exaggerate the degree of how bad something is. In recent years, however, 死了 also comes after adjectives with positive connotations.</li>
+
<li>[[Negative adjectives with "-si le"|死了]] usually comes after adjectives with negative connotations (like 忙, 累, 臭, 难看) and are commonly used to exaggerate the degree of how bad something is. In recent years, however, 死了 also comes after adjectives with positive connotations.</li>
  
<li>Figuratively, [[坏了]] is a bit like the complement [[Negative adjectives with "-si le"|死了]], and can be used to mean "extremely" in either a positive or a negative sense.</li>
+
<li>[[坏了]] is a bit like the complement [[Negative adjectives with "-si le"|死了]] and can be used to mean "extremely" in either a positive or a negative sense.</li>
 
</ol>
 
</ol>
  
Line 107: Line 108:
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
*味道 <strong>好</strong> <em>极了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wèidào <strong>hǎo</strong> <em>jí le</em>.</span><span class="trans">The taste is amazing.</span>
+
*味道 <strong>好</strong> <em>极了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wèidào <strong>hǎo</strong> <em>jíle</em>.</span><span class="trans">The taste is amazing.</span>
 
*这里 的 天气 <strong>舒服</strong> <em>极了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ de tiānqì <strong>shūfu</strong> <em>jíle</em>.</span><span class="trans">The weather here is so comfortable.</span>
 
*这里 的 天气 <strong>舒服</strong> <em>极了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ de tiānqì <strong>shūfu</strong> <em>jíle</em>.</span><span class="trans">The weather here is so comfortable.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
*他 的 袜子 <strong>臭</strong> <em>死了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Tā de wàzi <strong>chòu</strong> <em>sǐ le</em>.</span><span class="trans">His socks totally reek.</span>
+
*他 的 袜子 <strong>臭</strong> <em>死了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Tā de wàzi <strong>chòu</strong> <em>sǐle</em>.</span><span class="trans">His socks totally reek.</span>
*小狗 <strong>可爱</strong> <em>死了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Xiǎogǒu <strong>kě'ài</strong> <em>sǐ le</em>.</span><span class="trans">Her baby is so adorable! </span>
+
*小狗 <strong>可爱</strong> <em>死了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Xiǎogǒu <strong>kě'ài</strong> <em>sǐle</em>.</span><span class="trans">The puppy is so adorable! </span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
*老师 说 今天 没有 作业 ,我们 都 <strong>高兴</strong> <em>坏了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎoshī shuō jīntiān méiyǒu zuòyè, wǒmen dōu <strong>gāoxìng</strong> <em>huài le</em>.</span><span class="trans">The teacher said there's no homework for today, which made the students extremely happy.</span>
+
*老师 说 今天 没有 作业 ,我们 都 <strong>高兴</strong> <em>坏了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎoshī shuō jīntiān méiyǒu zuòyè, wǒmen dōu <strong>gāoxìng</strong> <em>huàile</em>.</span><span class="trans">The teacher said there's no homework for today, which thrilled us all.</span>
*听说 儿子 又 跟 同学 打架 了 ,爸爸 <strong>气</strong> <em>坏了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Tīngshuō érzi yòu gēn tóngxué dǎjià le, bàba <strong>qì</strong> <em>huài le</em>.</span><span class="trans">Having heard his son was fighting with his classmate again, the father was incensed.</span>
+
*找 不 到 孩子 ,妈妈 <strong>急</strong> <em>坏了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhǎo bu dào háizi, māma <strong>jí</strong> <em>huàile</em>.</span><span class="trans">Having not found the child, the mother was an anxious wreck.</span>
*找 不 到 孩子 ,妈妈<strong>急</strong> <em>坏了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhǎo bu dào háizi, māma <strong>jí</strong> <em>huài le</em>.</span><span class="trans">Having not found the child, the mother was extremely anxious.</span>
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
Note that 死 can also act as a [[result complement]]. In the examples above, however, it merely indicates an extreme degree (no actual deaths involved!).
+
Note that 死 can also act as a [[result complement]] in verb phrases such as 打死 (literally, "beat to death"). In the examples above, however, it merely indicates an extreme degree (no actual deaths involved!).
  
== Advanced Degree Complements ==
+
== Compared with Potential Complements ==
  
The expression of "degree" following a ''verb'' is quite broad.  A vast array of adjectives can appear in the degree complement following verbs, indicating degree and quality. When it comes to ''adjectives'', however, expression of degree is often much more limited.  The following are some of the more common degree complements which follow adjectives.
+
Some sentences that contain adjective complements may be indistinguishable as degree or potential complements when they are taken out of context. The following table explains different meanings that one complement phrase could have as either a degree complement or potential complement.
 
 
=== Structure ===
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
Adj. + 得 + 很 / 不得了 / 不行 
 
</div>
 
 
 
=== Examples ===
 
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
*这个 学生 <strong>聪明</strong> <em>得 很</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège xuéshēng <strong>cōngming</strong> <em>de hěn</em>.</span><span class="trans">This student is super smart.</span>
 
*我 看 ,你的 工作 <strong>轻松</strong> <strong></strong> <em>得 很</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒkàn, nǐ de gōngzuò <strong>qīngsōng</strong> <em>de hěn</em>.</span><span class="trans">In my opinion, your job is extremely relaxed.</span>
 
</div>
 
  
<div class="liju">
+
*她说得清楚<span class="pinyin">tā shuō de qīngchu</span><span class="trans">she speaks clearly (Degree Complement Translation)</span><span class="trans">she is able to speak clearly (Potential Complement Translation)</span>
*他 <strong>固执</strong> <em>得 不得了</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <strong>gùzhí</strong> <em>de bùdéliǎo</em>.</span><span class="trans">He is awfully stubborn.</span>
+
*他们做得好<span class="pinyin">tāmen zuò de hǎo</span><span class="trans">they do it well (Degree Complement Translation)</span><span class="trans">they are able to do it well (Potential Complement Translation)</span>
*赢 了 比赛 以后 ,他 <strong>骄傲</strong> <strong></strong> <em>得 不得了</em> <span class="pinyin">Yíng le bǐsài yǐhòu, <strong>jiāo'ào</strong> <em>de bùdéliǎo</em>.</span><span class="trans">He was terribly proud after he won the competition.</span>
+
*他跑得快<span class="pinyin">tā pǎo de kuài</span><span class="trans">he runs fast (Degree Complement Translation)</span><span class="trans">he is able to run fast (Potential Complement Translation)</span>
</div>
 
  
<div class="liju">
 
*我 儿子 <strong>淘气</strong> <em>得 要命</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ érzi <strong>táoqì</strong> <em>de yàomìng</em>.</span><span class="trans">My son is incredibly naughty.</span>
 
*地铁 <strong>挤</strong> <em>得 要命</em> !<span class="pinyin">Dìtiě <strong>jǐ</strong> <em>de yàomìng</em>!</span><span class="trans">The metro is intenselt crowded!</span>
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
<div class="liju">
+
Degree complements are commonly directly preceded by an adverb like 很. For example: 她说得很清楚. This serves to distinguish them from potential complements, which are never directly preceded by an adverb.
*我 的 牙 <strong>痛</strong> <em>得 不 行</em> !<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de yá <strong>tòng</strong> <em>de bù xíng</em>!</span><span class="trans">My teeth hurt so terribly!</span>
 
*今天 <strong>热</strong> <em>得 不 行</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān <strong>rè</strong> <em>de bù xíng</em>.</span><span class="trans">It's awfully hot today.</span>
 
</div>
 
  
== Compared with Potential Complements ==
+
== Descriptive and State Complements ==
  
Some sentences that contain adjective complements may be indistinguishable as degree or potential complements when they are taken out of context. The following table explains different meanings that one complement phrase could have as either a degree or potential.
+
Not every aspect of Chinese grammar is agreed upon in the world of academia, and this is the case with degree complements, [[descriptive complement]]s, and [[state complement]]s. Some scholars hold that the three are distinct, while others posit they're all just types of degree complements. Still, others maintain that degree complements are one, and descriptive complements and state complements are also one.  
  
<div class="liju">
+
Here's how a professor of Chinese at Yale puts it<ref>See the article [http://comet.cls.yale.edu/mandarin/content/degree/grammar/Degree-1.htm What is the complement of degree?] by Ling Mu, Rongzhen Li, and Peisong Xu.</ref>:
  
{| class="wikitable" style="width:40em"
+
<blockquote>
|+Examples of complement phrases that can serve as both degree and potential complements
+
Generally speaking, the complement of degree is a grammatical unit that describes the main verb of the sentence. Specifically, the complement of degree is an assessment of an action or a description of the consequential state of an action. It may also be a description of the degree of a state.
|-
+
</blockquote>
! Example !! Degree Complement Translation !! Potential Complement Translation
 
|-
 
| 她说得很清楚 ||  <span style="font-size:0.7em;"><span class="spaced">"She speaks very clearly." </span></span> ||  <span style="font-size:0.7em;"> <span class="spaced"> "She is able to speak very clearly." </span></span> 
 
|-
 
| 他做得非常快|| <span style="font-size:0.7em;"><span class="spaced"> "He does it very fast." </span></span> ||  <span style="font-size:0.7em;"><span class="spaced"> "He is able to do it very fast." </span></span> 
 
|-
 
| 他们唱得很好|| <span style="font-size:0.7em;"><span class="spaced"> "They sing very well." </span></span> ||  <span style="font-size:0.7em;"><span class="spaced"> "They are able to sing very well." </span></span> 
 
|-
 
|}
 
  
</div>
+
Okayyy, so it sounds like descriptions and states are all degree complements? That's one of the views on the issue.
  
Degree complements commonly are directly preceded by an adverb (她说得很清楚) distinguishing them from potential complements which are never directly preceded by an adverb.
+
None of these classifications truly matters though: the key is ''understanding'' them and ''using'' complements correctly to express yourself in Chinese. (This is already difficult without adding in unnecessary academic distinctions!)
  
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
  
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
 +
 +
== See also ==
 +
 +
* [[Advanced degree complements]]
 +
* [[Complement "-huai le"]]
 +
* [[Adjectives with "-ji le"]]
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
Line 200: Line 179:
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 +
{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
 
[[Category:Complements]]
 
[[Category:Complements]]
  
{{Basic Grammar|得|B1|Verb / Adj. + 得⋯⋯|<em>死了</em>。|grammar point|ASG79STE}}
+
{{Basic Grammar|得|B1|Verb + 得⋯⋯|你 做 <em>得 不错</em> 。|grammar point|ASG79STE}}
 +
{{Similar|Complement "-huai le"}}
 +
{{Similar|Adjectives with "-ji le"}}
 +
{{Similar|Advanced degree complements}}
 
{{Structure|Complements}}
 
{{Structure|Complements}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing degree}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing degree}}
{{Similar|Descriptive complements}}
 
{{Similar|Adjectival Complement "de budeliao"}}
 
{{Similar|Using objects with complements}}
 
{{Similar|Adjectival Complement "de hen"}}
 

Latest revision as of 08:57, 21 April 2021

Also known as: 程度补语 (chéngdù bǔyǔ) and complement of degree.

While most complements follow verbs, degree complements can follow both verbs and adjectives. These complements intensify or modify the degree of expression of the verb or adjective.

When to use it

Until now, you may have been getting by just fine modifying your verbs with adverbs. You can use 非常 to say "very" and all that. Great. But once you learn to use degree complements, a whole new layer of expressiveness is infused into your language. You will be able to express degree of verbs and adjectives with much more precision and color. But how do you know when to use the degree complement? Here are the main reasons to use it:

1. To express how a verb happened or assess its quality

2. To express to what extent (or degree) an adjective is true

For the first case, the most typical examples would be describing how well an action is done, or in asking how well an action is done, which are sometimes also classified as descriptive complements and state complements.

  • 你们 觉得 我 画 得 怎么样The complement is used to ask "how well I draw."Nǐmen juéde wǒ huà de zěnmeyàng?
  • 我们 觉得 你 画 得 很 好The complement tells us that "you draw very well."Wǒmen juéde nǐ huà de hěn hǎo.
  • 他 英语 说 得 怎么样The complement is used to ask "how well he speaks English."Tā Yīngyǔ shuō de zěnmeyàng?
  • 他 英语 说 得 一般The complement tells us that "His English is average."Tā Yīngyǔ shuō de yībān.

Basic Pattern Following Verbs

We can use all kinds of degree complements to add some color to our verbs.

Structure

Verb + 得 + [Degree Complement]

Examples

  • 你 做 得 不错Nǐ zuò de bùcuò.You're doing a great job.
  • 孩子们 学 得 挺 快 的Háizi men xué de tǐng kuài de.The kids are learning fast.
  • 我 吃 得 太 饱了Wǒ chī de tài bǎo le.I'm stuffed.
  • 你们 谈 得 顺利 吗 ?Nǐmen tán de shùnlì ma?Did your conversation go well?
  • 她 长 得 还 可以Tā zhǎng de hái kěyǐ.She is all right-looking.

Degree Complements with Objects

Both adding a complement to a verb with an object and adding an objective to a verb with a complement complicate a sentence in Mandarin, because a single verb cannot be followed by both an object and a complement. In order to get all three pieces of information into a grammatically correct Chinese sentence, there are two approaches to take:

Approach #1: Repeat the Verb

  • 中文 得 很 好shuō Zhōngwén shuō de hěn hǎo.You speak Chinese well. (lit. You speak Chinese speak it well.)

Just like little kids, objects and complements don't know how to share. Make sure each gets its own (identical) verb. Also make sure that the object comes after the first instance of the verb, and the complement after the second.

Approach #2: Move the Object to the Front

  • 你 的 中文得 很 好Nǐ de Zhōngwén shuō de hěn hǎo.You speak Chinese well. (lit. You Chinese speak well.)

Note: the 你的中文 in the sentence above can also be 你中文 (without the 的). When it makes sense to include the 的, it often sounds better.

Just to be completely clear, the following sentences are both incorrect:

  • 中文 很 好Nǐ shuō Zhōngwén hěn hǎo.
  • 中文 得 很 好Nǐ shuō Zhōngwén de hěn hǎo.

A few more examples:

  • 得 很 好zuò cài zuò de hěn hǎo.You cook very well.
  • 你 的 得 很 好Nǐ de cài zuò de hěn hǎo.You cook very well.
  • 得 很 漂亮xiěxiě de hěn piàoliang.Your handwriting is beautiful.
  • 你 的 得 很 漂亮Nǐ de xiě de hěn piàoliang.Your handwriting is beautiful.

Degree Complements Following Adjectives

Common Patterns

There are three especially common degree complements which can follow adjectives immediately and are not preceded by a 得:

  1. 极了 often comes after adjectives with positive connotations (often 好), indicating an extremely high degree.
  2. 死了 usually comes after adjectives with negative connotations (like 忙, 累, 臭, 难看) and are commonly used to exaggerate the degree of how bad something is. In recent years, however, 死了 also comes after adjectives with positive connotations.
  3. 坏了 is a bit like the complement 死了 and can be used to mean "extremely" in either a positive or a negative sense.

Examples

  • 味道 极了Wèidào hǎo jíle.The taste is amazing.
  • 这里 的 天气 舒服 极了Zhèlǐ de tiānqì shūfu jíle.The weather here is so comfortable.
  • 他 的 袜子 死了Tā de wàzi chòu sǐle.His socks totally reek.
  • 小狗 可爱 死了Xiǎogǒu kě'ài sǐle.The puppy is so adorable!
  • 老师 说 今天 没有 作业 ,我们 都 高兴 坏了Lǎoshī shuō jīntiān méiyǒu zuòyè, wǒmen dōu gāoxìng huàile.The teacher said there's no homework for today, which thrilled us all.
  • 找 不 到 孩子 ,妈妈 坏了Zhǎo bu dào háizi, māma huàile.Having not found the child, the mother was an anxious wreck.

Note that 死 can also act as a result complement in verb phrases such as 打死 (literally, "beat to death"). In the examples above, however, it merely indicates an extreme degree (no actual deaths involved!).

Compared with Potential Complements

Some sentences that contain adjective complements may be indistinguishable as degree or potential complements when they are taken out of context. The following table explains different meanings that one complement phrase could have as either a degree complement or potential complement.

  • 她说得清楚tā shuō de qīngchushe speaks clearly (Degree Complement Translation)she is able to speak clearly (Potential Complement Translation)
  • 他们做得好tāmen zuò de hǎothey do it well (Degree Complement Translation)they are able to do it well (Potential Complement Translation)
  • 他跑得快tā pǎo de kuàihe runs fast (Degree Complement Translation)he is able to run fast (Potential Complement Translation)

Degree complements are commonly directly preceded by an adverb like 很. For example: 她说得很清楚. This serves to distinguish them from potential complements, which are never directly preceded by an adverb.

Descriptive and State Complements

Not every aspect of Chinese grammar is agreed upon in the world of academia, and this is the case with degree complements, descriptive complements, and state complements. Some scholars hold that the three are distinct, while others posit they're all just types of degree complements. Still, others maintain that degree complements are one, and descriptive complements and state complements are also one.

Here's how a professor of Chinese at Yale puts it[1]:

Generally speaking, the complement of degree is a grammatical unit that describes the main verb of the sentence. Specifically, the complement of degree is an assessment of an action or a description of the consequential state of an action. It may also be a description of the degree of a state.

Okayyy, so it sounds like descriptions and states are all degree complements? That's one of the views on the issue.

None of these classifications truly matters though: the key is understanding them and using complements correctly to express yourself in Chinese. (This is already difficult without adding in unnecessary academic distinctions!)

References

  1. See the article What is the complement of degree? by Ling Mu, Rongzhen Li, and Peisong Xu.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites