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 in different ways to adjectives and other nouns. Nouns are linked to 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, 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 beautiful.
• 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 家 的 狗 很 聪明 。 Wǒ jiā de gǒu hěn cōngming. My family's dog is clever.
• 我哥哥 也 很 高。 Wǒ gēge yě hěn gāo. My elder brother is also tall.
• 你 家 也 很 远 吗？ Nǐ jiā yě hěn yuǎn ma? Is your house also far away?
• 我爸爸 很 忙，妈妈 也 很忙。 Wǒ bàba hěn máng, māma yě hěn máng. My dad is busy.
• 他 和 他 弟弟 都 很很 帅。 Tā hé tā dìdi dōu hěn shuài. His younger brother and him 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.

See also

• Connecting nouns with "shi"

Sources and further reading

Videos

• Yoyo Chinese: "To be" + Adjectives

Books

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