Degree Adverbs: 比较, 更加, 相当, 极
Degree adverbs are words placed before an adjective to say how strong the quality is. At HSK 3 they are 比较 (fairly), 相当 (quite), 更加 (even more) and 极 (extremely), which also works after the adjective as 极了.
In English
These four adverbs all show degree, but they differ in strength. 比较 is mild and means fairly or relatively. 相当 is stronger and means quite or considerably.
更加 means even more, so it compares a thing with an earlier state or with something else. 极 is the strongest and means extremely; it goes before an adjective, or after it as 极了 in speech. They all stand directly before the adjective or feeling verb, and you do not add 很 next to them.
这四个副词都表示程度，但强度和语感不同。
| 副词 | 程度 | 用法要点 |
|------|------|----------|
| 比较 bǐ jiào | 较弱 (fairly/relatively) | 常含比较含义；可修饰形容词或动词 |
| 相当 xiāng dāng | 中等偏强 (quite/considerably) | 比比较强；表示达到相当程度 |
| 更加 gèng jiā | 比较级 (even more) | 用于比较语境或递进变化 |
| 极 jí | 最强 (extremely) | 极+形；口语：形+极了 |
位置规则：
- 比较/相当/更加/极 + 形容词/心理动词
- 口语中常用：好极了、累极了
✅ 这道题比较简单，你试试看。
✅ 他的汉语说得相当流利。
✅ 今天比昨天更加冷了。
✅ 这个消息让我高兴极了。
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 这本书比较有意思，我一口气读完了。 | Zhè běn shū bǐ jiào yǒu yì si, wǒ yī kǒu qì dú wán le. | This book is fairly interesting; I read it all in one go. | 比较 (fairly/relatively) — mild positive degree; implies it's above average but not extreme |
| 她的英语水平相当高，跟外国人交流没有问题。 | Tā de Yīng yǔ shuǐ píng xiāng dāng gāo, gēn wài guó rén jiāo liú méi yǒu wèn tí. | Her English level is quite high; she has no problem communicating with foreigners. | 相当 (quite/considerably) — stronger than 比较; describes a notably high level |
| 经过一个月的练习，他的发音更加清楚了。 | Jīng guò yī gè yuè de liàn xí, tā de fā yīn gèng jiā qīng chu le. | After a month of practice, his pronunciation became even clearer. | 更加 (even more) — marks progressive improvement or comparison; 经过...了 is a common trigger pattern |
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.
比较 (bǐ jiào)
Means fairly or relatively, a mild degree.
Structure: 比较 + adjective / feeling verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 这家饭馆比较便宜，我常来。 | Zhè jiā fàn guǎn bǐ jiào pián yi, wǒ cháng lái. | This restaurant is fairly cheap, so I come often. |
| 我比较喜欢喝茶，不太喜欢咖啡。 | Wǒ bǐ jiào xǐ huān hē chá, bú tài xǐ huān kā fēi. | I rather like tea and do not like coffee so much. |
| 今天比较冷，多穿一件衣服吧。 | Jīn tiān bǐ jiào lěng, duō chuān yí jiàn yī fú ba. | It is fairly cold today, so put on one more layer. |
Not: 这本书比较很好。 Do not stack 很 with 比较; one degree word is enough.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 3, adverbs (程度副词).
更加 (gèng jiā)
Means even more, comparing with an earlier state or another thing.
Structure: 更加 + adjective / verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 下雨以后，路更加难走了。 | Xià yǔ yǐ hòu, lù gèng jiā nán zǒu le. | After the rain the road became even harder to walk on. |
| 学了语法以后，他说得更加自然了。 | Xué le yǔ fǎ yǐ hòu, tā shuō de gèng jiā zì rán le. | After studying grammar, he speaks even more naturally. |
| 她本来就很忙，现在更加忙了。 | Tā běn lái jiù hěn máng, xiàn zài gèng jiā máng le. | She was busy already, and now she is even busier. |
Not: 他比我更加很高。 更加 already carries the degree, so 很 cannot follow it.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 4, adverbs (程度副词).
相当 (xiāng dāng)
Means quite or considerably, stronger than 比较.
Structure: 相当 + adjective / verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 这次考试相当难，很多人没做完。 | Zhè cì kǎo shì xiāng dāng nán, hěn duō rén méi zuò wán. | The exam was quite hard and many people did not finish. |
| 他的字写得相当好看。 | Tā de zì xiě de xiāng dāng hǎo kàn. | His handwriting is quite good looking. |
| 那家医院相当有名。 | Nà jiā yī yuàn xiāng dāng yǒu míng. | That hospital is quite famous. |
Not: 他的汉语相当。 相当 needs an adjective or verb after it and cannot end the sentence alone.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 5, adverbs (程度副词).
极 (jí)
Means extremely; it goes before an adjective or after it as 极了.
Structure: 极 + adjective, or adjective + 极了
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 这个电影好看极了。 | Zhè gè diàn yǐng hǎo kàn jí le. | This film is extremely good. |
| 听到这个消息，大家都高兴极了。 | Tīng dào zhè gè xiāo xī, dà jiā dōu gāo xìng jí le. | Hearing the news, everyone was extremely happy. |
| 这件事对他的影响极大。 | Zhè jiàn shì duì tā de yǐng xiǎng jí dà. | This matter has an extremely large effect on him. |
Not: 他很极高兴。 极 already means extremely; drop 很 and say 他高兴极了.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 3, adverbs (程度副词).
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 2
- 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 are words placed before an adjective to say how strong the quality is. At HSK 3 they are 比较 (fairly), 相当 (quite), 更加 (even more) and 极 (extremely), which also works after the adjective as 极了. It is an HSK 3 grammar point.
How do you use 程度副词 (Degree Adverbs) in a sentence?
这本书比较有意思，我一口气读完了。 — Zhè běn shū bǐ jiào yǒu yì si, wǒ yī kǒu qì dú wán le. — This book is fairly interesting; I read it all in one go. 比较 (fairly/relatively) — mild positive degree; implies it's above average but not extreme.
What do you need to know before 程度副词 (Degree Adverbs)?
Degree Adverbs (HSK 1), Degree Adverbs (HSK 2). 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 比较, 相当 and 极?
They rise in strength: 比较 is fairly, 相当 is quite, 极 is extremely. For example 比较冷 is a bit cold, 相当冷 is quite cold and 冷极了 is freezing.
Can I say 很极了 or 很更加?
No. 极 and 更加 already express degree, so 很 is never added. Say 好极了 or 更加好, not 很好极了.
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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