Degree Complements: Adj+得很/极了/死了
A degree complement goes after an adjective to say it is true to an extreme degree, instead of putting 很 before it. At HSK 3 the main ones are 得很 (very), 极了 (extremely) and 死了 (unbearably), as in 好极了 and 累死了.
得很 — "very," a neutral colloquial intensifier. 这家餐厅的菜好吃得很。
极了 — "extremely," a strong, enthusiastic tone common in exclamations. 这次旅行有意思极了！
死了 — "to death, incredibly" — hyperbolic exaggeration, most often with uncomfortable feelings (累、饿、热、冷、渴). 今天热死了！
Rule: never double up with 很 before the adjective as well — ❌ 很好极了 → ✅ 好极了.
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 这道菜辣得很，你要小心。 | Zhè dào cài là de hěn, nǐ yào xiǎoxīn. | This dish is very spicy, be careful. | Adjective (辣) + 得很, a neutral colloquial intensifier. |
| 今天的天气好极了，我们去公园吧。 | Jīntiān de tiānqì hǎo jí le, wǒmen qù gōngyuán ba. | The weather today is fantastic, let's go to the park. | Adjective (好) + 极了, an enthusiastic, exclamation-style intensifier. |
| 排了两个小时的队，我们都累死了。 | Páile liǎng ge xiǎoshí de duì, wǒmen dōu lèi sǐ le. | We waited in line for two hours, we're exhausted. | Adjective (累) + 死了, a hyperbolic intensifier typically paired with uncomfortable feelings, reinforced here by the two-hour wait. |
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.
得很 (de hěn)
Goes after an adjective to say it is true to a high degree.
Structure: Adjective + 得很
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 他家离学校远得很。 | Tā jiā lí xué xiào yuǎn de hěn. | His home is very far from the school. |
| 昨天晚上的风大得很。 | Zuó tiān wǎn shàng de fēng dà de hěn. | The wind last night was very strong. |
| 这个孩子聪明得很，一学就会。 | Zhè gè hái zi cōng míng de hěn, yì xué jiù huì. | This child is very clever and learns as soon as he studies it. |
Not: 他很高得很。 得很 already carries the degree, so do not add 很 before the adjective.
极了 (jí le)
Goes after an adjective to say it is extremely so, mostly in speech.
Structure: Adjective + 极了
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 这首歌好听极了。 | Zhè shǒu gē hǎo tīng jí le. | This song is extremely nice to listen to. |
| 考试以前，我紧张极了。 | Kǎo shì yǐ qián, wǒ jǐn zhāng jí le. | Before the exam I was extremely nervous. |
| 夏天的北京热极了。 | Xià tiān de běi jīng rè jí le. | Beijing in summer is extremely hot. |
Not: 极了好吃。 极了 comes after the adjective: 好吃极了.
死了 (sǐ le)
Goes after an adjective or feeling to say it is unbearable, mostly in speech.
Structure: Adjective / feeling + 死了
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 跑了一个小时，我渴死了。 | Pǎo le yí gè xiǎo shí, wǒ kě sǐ le. | After running for an hour I am dying of thirst. |
| 这个房间热死了，把空调开开吧。 | Zhè gè fáng jiān rè sǐ le, bǎ kōng tiáo kāi kāi ba. | This room is boiling hot, so turn on the air conditioner. |
| 他一天没吃饭，现在饿死了。 | Tā yì tiān méi chī fàn, xiàn zài è sǐ le. | He has not eaten all day and is starving now. |
Not: 我很累死了。 死了 is already a strong degree, so 很 cannot come before the adjective.
Compared side by side: 得很 vs 极了.
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.
What this opens up
These patterns list Degree Complements among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.
The same pattern at other levels
- Degree Complements — HSK 2
Questions about Degree Complements
What does 程度补语 (Degree Complements) mean in Chinese?
A degree complement goes after an adjective to say it is true to an extreme degree, instead of putting 很 before it. At HSK 3 the main ones are 得很 (very), 极了 (extremely) and 死了 (unbearably), as in 好极了 and 累死了. It is an HSK 3 grammar point.
How do you use 程度补语 (Degree Complements) in a sentence?
这道菜辣得很，你要小心。 — Zhè dào cài là de hěn, nǐ yào xiǎoxīn. — This dish is very spicy, be careful. Adjective (辣) + 得很, a neutral colloquial intensifier.
What do you need to know before 程度补语 (Degree Complements)?
Structural Particle 得 (HSK 2), Degree Complements (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 does 程度补语 (Degree Complements) lead to?
Degree complement (HSK 4). Each of them names 程度补语 (Degree Complements) among its own prerequisites.
Does 死了 really mean "dead"?
No. In 累死了 it only means extremely, and it is used for feelings and conditions, often unpleasant ones. 我饿死了 means I am starving.
What is the difference between 得很 and 极了?
Both put a high degree after an adjective. 极了 is a bit more exclamatory, like 好看极了, and 得很 is plainer, like 好看得很. Neither takes 很 in front of the adjective.
Degree Complements 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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