Degree Adverbs: 多、多么、更、十分、特别、挺、有点儿
Degree adverbs placed before an adjective say how strong a quality is. HSK 2 adds 挺 (quite), 有点儿 (a little, often unwelcome), 十分 (very), 特别 (especially) and 多么 (how, in exclamations), beyond the 很 and 太 of HSK 1.
- 更 (gèng) = "even more" — implies a comparison with something already mentioned. 这个更好 = this one is even better (than the other one).
- 十分 (shí fēn) = "extremely" — a strong, plain intensifier, similar to 非常.
- 特别 (tè bié) = "especially/particularly" — singles one thing out among others.
- 挺 (tǐng) = "quite/pretty" — casual, usually paired with a sentence-final 的: 挺好的.
Common mistake: forgetting the 的 after 挺 — 挺好 alone sounds incomplete in speech; 挺好的 is the natural pattern.
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 他挺忙的。 | Tā tǐng máng de. | He's quite busy. | 挺 + Adjective + 的 is the casual "quite" pattern. |
| 我今天有点儿累。 | Wǒ jīn tiān yǒu diǎnr lèi. | I'm a bit tired today. | 有点儿 signals a mild, usually undesirable degree — different tone from 很/十分. |
| 这个更好，我们买这个吧。 | Zhè ge gèng hǎo, wǒ men mǎi zhè ge ba. | This one is even better — let's buy this one. | 更 means "even more," implying comparison with another option already in mind. |
| 他十分喜欢这本书。 | Tā shí fēn xǐ huan zhè běn shū. | He likes this book extremely much. | 十分 (extremely) can intensify feeling-verbs like 喜欢, not just adjectives. |
| 妈妈特别喜欢这件衣服。 | Mā ma tè bié xǐ huan zhè jiàn yī fu. | Mom especially likes this piece of clothing. | 特别 singles out one favorite thing among others — stronger and more personal than 很. |
| 他多大？ | Tā duō dà? | How old is he? | 多 + Adjective forms a QUESTION about degree — common with 大 (age), 高 (height). |
| 这个苹果多么大啊！ | Zhè ge píng guǒ duō me dà a! | How big this apple is! | 多么 + Adjective + 啊 forms an EXCLAMATION, not a question — different register from 多. |
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.
挺 (tǐng)
Says 'quite' or 'rather', and sounds friendly and spoken.
Structure: 挺 + adj (+ 的)
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 这个电影挺好看的。 | Zhè gè diàn yǐng tǐng hǎo kàn de. | This film is quite good. |
| 今天挺冷的，多穿点儿。 | Jīn tiān tǐng lěng de, duō chuān diǎn. | It is rather cold today, so wear more. |
| 她的中文说得挺不错。 | Tā de zhōng wén shuō de tǐng bú cuò. | Her Chinese is quite good. |
Not: 他挺很高。 挺 already gives the degree, so 很 is not added.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 3, adverbs (程度副词).
有点儿 (yǒu diǎn)
Means 'a bit', and usually points to something unwelcome.
Structure: 有点儿 + adj
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我有点儿饿。 | Wǒ yǒu diǎn è. | I am a little hungry. |
| 这件衣服有点儿小。 | Zhè jiàn yī fu yǒu diǎn xiǎo. | This piece of clothing is a bit small. |
| 今天的作业有点儿多。 | Jīn tiān de zuò yè yǒu diǎn duō. | There is a bit too much homework today. |
Not: 这个菜有点儿好吃。 有点儿 usually shows a complaint; for something good use 挺 or 很.
十分 (shí fēn)
Means 'very' in a slightly formal way.
Structure: 十分 + adj / verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我十分感谢你。 | Wǒ shí fēn gǎn xiè nǐ. | I am very grateful to you. |
| 她学习十分努力。 | Tā xué xí shí fēn nǔ lì. | She studies very hard. |
| 这里的风景十分美。 | Zhè lǐ de fēng jǐng shí fēn měi. | The scenery here is very beautiful. |
Not: 他十分很忙。 十分 is already a degree word, so 很 does not follow it.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 4, adverbs (程度副词).
十分 is also explained in: Degree adverbs: 十分/极其/稍微/格外 (HSK 4).
特别 (tè bié)
Means 'especially' or 'particularly' and is strong but friendly.
Structure: 特别 + adj / verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我特别想家。 | Wǒ tè bié xiǎng jiā. | I miss home very much. |
| 这家店的面条特别好吃。 | Zhè jiā diàn de miàn tiáo tè bié hǎo chī. | The noodles at this shop are especially good. |
| 他今天特别高兴。 | Tā jīn tiān tè bié gāo xìng. | He is especially happy today. |
Not: 今天特别很冷。 特别 is a degree word on its own; do not stack 很 with it.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 3, adverbs (程度副词).
多么 (duō me)
Makes an exclamation: 'how very'.
Structure: 多么 + adj + 啊
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 今天多么冷啊！ | Jīn tiān duō me lěng a! | How cold it is today! |
| 你看，这个孩子多么可爱！ | Nǐ kàn, zhè gè hái zi duō me kě ài! | Look, how lovely this child is! |
| 他多么希望你能来啊！ | Tā duō me xī wàng nǐ néng lái a! | How much he hopes you can come! |
Not: 她多么漂亮吗？ 多么 makes an exclamation, so 吗 does not belong at the end.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 4, adverbs (程度副词).
Compared side by side: 有点儿 vs 一点儿.
What you need first
Every topic in GraphChinese names its own prerequisites, and these are the grammar points this one is built on. If a sentence here will not parse, one of them is why.
The same pattern at other levels
- Degree Adverbs — HSK 1
- 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 placed before an adjective say how strong a quality is. HSK 2 adds 挺 (quite), 有点儿 (a little, often unwelcome), 十分 (very), 特别 (especially) and 多么 (how, in exclamations), beyond the 很 and 太 of HSK 1. It is an HSK 2 grammar point.
How do you use 程度副词 (Degree Adverbs) in a sentence?
他挺忙的。 — Tā tǐng máng de. — He's quite busy. 挺 + Adjective + 的 is the casual "quite" pattern.
What do you need to know before 程度副词 (Degree Adverbs)?
Degree Adverbs (HSK 1). This pattern is built out of them, so a sentence here that will not parse usually means one of them has not landed yet.
What is the difference between 有点儿 and 一点儿?
有点儿 goes before an adjective and means 'a bit too', as in 这个有点儿贵。 一点儿 goes after the adjective and asks for a small change, as in 有没有便宜一点儿的？
Which degree word should a beginner use first?
Start with 很, then add 太 and 非常. 挺 is a good spoken choice for 'quite', for example 这家饭馆挺好吃的。
Degree Adverbs is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
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