Degree, Scope and Time Adverbs
格外 and 极其 (especially, extremely) raise degree, 一律 (without exception) and 纷纷 (one after another) set scope, and 随即 (right after) and 事先 (beforehand) fix timing. They are adverbs that go before the verb or adjective in written Chinese.
In English
This point groups six written adverbs. Degree adverbs 格外 and 极其 raise an adjective above normal, with 极其 the stronger. Scope adverbs show how many are involved: 一律 means no exception, and 纷纷 means many do it one after another, so it needs a plural subject.
Time adverbs place the action: 随即 means right after, and 事先 means beforehand. All six are more formal than 很, 都 and 马上, and each has a limit, for example 一律 cannot describe a single person.
程度副词（放在形容词/心理动词前，加强程度）：
- 格外 = 特别、超出一般：今天格外冷。语气比'很'重，比'非常'更书面。
- 极其 = 极度地，语气最强，多用于书面语：极其重要、极其罕见。
范围副词（表示涉及的范围）：
- 一律 = 没有例外，全部一样：所有人一律排队。
- 纷纷 = （多个主体）一个接一个地：大家纷纷发言。'纷纷'必须搭配复数主语。
时间副词（表示动作的先后顺序）：
- 随即 = 紧接着、马上（比'马上'更书面，强调前后紧接）：他说完随即离开。
- 事先 = 在事情发生之前：事先没有通知。
常见错误：'一律'不能用于单个人（不能说'他一律不来'）；'纷纷'不能用于单一动作。
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 今天的天气格外晴朗，很适合出去散步。 | Jīn tiān de tiān qì gé wài qíng lǎng, hěn shì hé chū qù sàn bù. | Today's weather is especially clear, great for a walk outside. | 格外 (degree adverb) in a minimal frame, modifying the adjective 晴朗. |
| 会议结束后，大家纷纷起身离开，会议室很快就空了。 | Huì yì jié shù hòu, dà jiā fēn fēn qǐ shēn lí kāi, huì yì shì hěn kuài jiù kōng le. | After the meeting ended, everyone got up and left one after another, and the conference room emptied out quickly. | 纷纷 (scope adverb) requires a plural subject (大家) — several people leaving in succession. |
| 校方事先没有通知任何人考试时间改变了，结果消息一公布，学生们纷纷表示不满，认为这种做法极其不负责任，校方随即召开了紧急会议。 | Xiào fāng shì xiān méi yǒu tōng zhī rèn hé rén kǎo shì shí jiān gǎi biàn le, jié guǒ xiāo xi yī gōng bù, xué sheng men fēn fēn biǎo shì bù mǎn, rèn wéi zhè zhǒng zuò fǎ jí qí bù fù zé rèn, xiào fāng suí jí zhào kāi le jǐn jí huì yì. | The school hadn't notified anyone in advance that the exam time had changed; once the news was announced, students voiced dissatisfaction one after another, considering this extremely irresponsible, and the school immediately convened an emergency meeting. | 事先, 纷纷, 极其, and 随即 combined in one dense narrative sentence. |
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.
格外 (gé wài)
Raises a quality above the usual level; stronger than 很 and slightly literary.
Structure: 格外 + adjective/feeling verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 雨后的空气格外清新。 | Yǔ hòu de kōng qì gé wài qīng xīn. | The air after the rain is especially fresh. |
| 春节前，街上格外热闹。 | Chūn jié qián, jiē shang gé wài rè nao. | Before the Spring Festival the streets are extra lively. |
| 他第一次上台，心里格外紧张。 | Tā dì yī cì shàng tái, xīn lǐ gé wài jǐn zhāng. | It was his first time on stage and he felt especially nervous. |
Not: 他格外去了北京。 格外 intensifies an adjective or a feeling, not a plain action.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 5, adverbs (程度副词).
格外 is also explained in: Degree adverbs: 十分/极其/稍微/格外 (HSK 4).
极其 (jí qí)
Marks the highest degree; strongly written.
Structure: 极其 + adjective
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 这件事极其重要，请大家务必参加。 | Zhè jiàn shì jí qí zhòng yào, qǐng dà jiā wù bì cān jiā. | This matter is extremely important, please make sure you attend. |
| 这种动物极其罕见。 | Zhè zhǒng dòng wù jí qí hǎn jiàn. | This kind of animal is extremely rare. |
| 他们在极其困难的条件下完成了任务。 | Tā men zài jí qí kùn nan de tiáo jiàn xià wán chéng le rèn wu. | They finished the task under extremely hard conditions. |
Not: 这件事极其重要得很。 极其 already means the highest degree, so do not add 得很.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 5, adverbs (程度副词).
极其 is also explained in: Degree adverbs: 十分/极其/稍微/格外 (HSK 4).
一律 (yí lǜ)
Says there is no exception: all are treated the same.
Structure: Group + 一律 + verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 进入实验室的人一律要穿白大褂。 | Jìn rù shí yàn shì de rén yí lǜ yào chuān bái dà guà. | Everyone entering the lab must wear a white coat. |
| 迟到的同学一律不能参加考试。 | Chí dào de tóng xué yí lǜ bù néng cān jiā kǎo shì. | Students who are late may not sit the exam, without exception. |
| 这些商品一律打八折。 | Zhè xiē shāng pǐn yí lǜ dǎ bā zhé. | All these goods are twenty percent off. |
Not: 他一律不来。 一律 covers a group; it cannot describe one person.
纷纷 (fēn fēn)
Says that many people or things act one after another.
Structure: Plural subject + 纷纷 + verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 听到好消息，大家纷纷鼓起掌来。 | Tīng dào hǎo xiāo xi, dà jiā fēn fēn gǔ qǐ zhǎng lái. | On hearing the good news, everyone began to applaud. |
| 秋天到了，树叶纷纷落下来。 | Qiū tiān dào le, shù yè fēn fēn luò xià lái. | Autumn has come and the leaves are falling one after another. |
| 游客们纷纷拿出手机拍照。 | Yóu kè men fēn fēn ná chū shǒu jī pāi zhào. | The tourists took out their phones one after another to take photos. |
Not: 他纷纷站起来了。 纷纷 needs a plural subject.
随即 (suí jí)
Says that one thing followed right after another; more written than 马上.
Structure: Event 1, 随即 + event 2
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 他点点头，随即转身走了出去。 | Tā diǎn diǎn tóu, suí jí zhuǎn shēn zǒu le chū qù. | He nodded and then turned and went out. |
| 灯一亮，掌声随即响了起来。 | Dēng yí liàng, zhǎng shēng suí jí xiǎng le qǐ lái. | As soon as the lights came on, applause followed. |
| 医生检查完病人，随即开了药。 | Yī shēng jiǎn chá wán bìng rén, suí jí kāi le yào. | The doctor examined the patient and then prescribed medicine. |
Not: 他随即了离开。 随即 is an adverb before the verb; 了 goes after the verb: 随即离开了.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 7-9, adverbs (时间副词).
事先 (shì xiān)
Says that something was done before the event.
Structure: 事先 + verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 去别人家做客，最好事先打个电话。 | Qù bié rén jiā zuò kè, zuì hǎo shì xiān dǎ ge diàn huà. | When visiting someone's home, it is best to call ahead. |
| 我事先不知道他会来。 | Wǒ shì xiān bù zhī dào tā huì lái. | I did not know beforehand that he would come. |
| 这次活动需要事先报名。 | Zhè cì huó dòng xū yào shì xiān bào míng. | You must sign up in advance for this event. |
Not: 活动结束了，他才事先通知大家。 事先 means before the event; after it, use 事后.
Compared side by side: 格外 vs 非常.
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, Scope and Time Adverbs among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.
Questions about Degree, Scope and Time Adverbs
What does 程度、范围与时间副词 (Degree, Scope and Time Adverbs) mean in Chinese?
格外 and 极其 (especially, extremely) raise degree, 一律 (without exception) and 纷纷 (one after another) set scope, and 随即 (right after) and 事先 (beforehand) fix timing. They are adverbs that go before the verb or adjective in written Chinese. It is an HSK 6 grammar point.
How do you use 程度、范围与时间副词 (Degree, Scope and Time Adverbs) in a sentence?
今天的天气格外晴朗，很适合出去散步。 — Jīn tiān de tiān qì gé wài qíng lǎng, hěn shì hé chū qù sàn bù. — Today's weather is especially clear, great for a walk outside. 格外 (degree adverb) in a minimal frame, modifying the adjective 晴朗.
What do you need to know before 程度、范围与时间副词 (Degree, Scope and Time Adverbs)?
Degree adverbs (HSK 4), Degree Adverbs (HSK 5). 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、范围与时间副词 (Degree, Scope and Time Adverbs) lead to?
Connective, Manner and Modal Adverbs (HSK 6). Each of them names 程度、范围与时间副词 (Degree, Scope and Time Adverbs) among its own prerequisites.
What is the difference between 格外 and 非常?
非常 is neutral and works in speech and writing. 格外 suggests 'more than usual' and fits descriptions: 今天格外冷 means colder than you expected. 格外 is mostly used before adjectives.
Can I use 纷纷 with a single person?
No. 纷纷 needs several people or things acting one after another, such as 大家纷纷站了起来. For one person use 立刻 or 马上.
Degree, Scope and Time 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.
Start at your true level