Degree Adverbs: 很/太/非常

Chinese grammar · HSK 1 · 程度副词 · By Carson 木林森 · Updated October 2026

Degree adverbs such as 很 (very), 太 (too, so) and 非常 (extremely) go directly before an adjective to say how much. In a plain statement 很 is often needed just to complete the sentence, without meaning 'very'.

Pattern: Subject + Degree Adverb + Adjective

• 很 (hěn) = very / quite. In simple adjective sentences, 很 is usually required even if you don't mean 'very' — the sentence sounds odd without it: 我很好 (I'm good / fine).
• 太 (tài) = too / excessively. Often paired with 了 at end: 太热了！(So hot!)
• 非常 (fēicháng) = extremely / very much. Stronger than 很.

❌ 她漂亮 (sounds incomplete without degree adverb)
✅ 她很漂亮 (She is pretty)

Worked examples

Word by word

Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.

很 (hěn)

Goes before an adjective to say 'very', and in plain statements it is often just needed for the sentence to sound complete.

Structure: Subject + 很 + Adjective

Not: 我的房间大。 A bare adjective sounds like a comparison; say 我的房间很大。

In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 1, adverbs (程度副词).

太 (tài)

Goes before an adjective to say 'too' or 'so', and usually ends with 了.

Structure: Subject + 太 + Adjective + 了

Not: 太很贵了。 Do not stack two degree adverbs; use one of them.

In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 1, adverbs (程度副词).

非常 (fēi cháng)

Goes before an adjective to say 'extremely', a step stronger than 很.

Structure: Subject + 非常 + Adjective

Not: 我们非常很忙。 非常 and 很 both mean 'very', so use only one.

In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 1, adverbs (程度副词).

Produce this pattern without stopping to think about it. GraphChinese drills Degree Adverbs across 12 exercises and schedules the review that keeps it.

What this opens up

These patterns list Degree Adverbs among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.

• Adjective Predicate Sentences
• Degree Complements

The same pattern at other levels

• Degree Adverbs — HSK 2
• Degree Adverbs — HSK 3
• Degree adverbs — HSK 4
• Degree Adverbs — HSK 5

Questions about Degree Adverbs

What does 程度副词 (Degree Adverbs) mean in Chinese?

Degree adverbs such as 很 (very), 太 (too, so) and 非常 (extremely) go directly before an adjective to say how much. In a plain statement 很 is often needed just to complete the sentence, without meaning 'very'. It is an HSK 1 grammar point.

How do you use 程度副词 (Degree Adverbs) in a sentence?

今天很冷。 — Jīn tiān hěn lěng. — Today is cold. 很 before adjective 冷; required in simple adj-predicate sentences.

Where does 程度副词 (Degree Adverbs) come in the HSK sequence?

HSK 1, and none of its prerequisites are grammar points — nothing else on this reference has to come first, so you can start here.

What does 程度副词 (Degree Adverbs) lead to?

Adjective Predicate Sentences (HSK 1), Degree Complements (HSK 2). Each of them names 程度副词 (Degree Adverbs) among its own prerequisites.

Does 很 always mean 'very' in Chinese?

No. In a simple sentence like 我很好 it is mostly a bridge that makes the adjective sentence sound complete. It only means 'very' when you stress it.

How do I say 'not very' in Chinese?

Put 不太 before the adjective: 我不太忙。 means 'I am not very busy.'

Related guides: All 195 grammar points · HSK 1 grammar · How to pass HSK 1 · The HSK levels, explained