格外 vs 非常: what is the difference?
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.
| Word | Pinyin | What it does | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 格外 | gé wài | Raises a quality above the usual level; stronger than 很 and slightly literary. | 格外 + adjective/feeling verb |
| 非常 | fēi cháng | A neutral 'very' that works in speech and in writing. | 非常 + Adj / Verb |
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.
非常 (fēi cháng)
A neutral 'very' that works in speech and in writing.
Structure: 非常 + Adj / Verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 这个公园非常漂亮。 | Zhè ge gōng yuán fēi cháng piào liang. | This park is very beautiful. |
| 他对我非常好。 | Tā duì wǒ fēi cháng hǎo. | He is very good to me. |
| 今天非常热。 | Jīn tiān fēi cháng rè. | It is very hot today. |
Not: 我非常很喜欢这个电影。 非常 already means 'very', so do not add 很: 我非常喜欢这个电影。
Where this comes from
The comparison is part of Degree, Scope and Time Adverbs (HSK 6) in the grammar reference, which has the full explanation, more worked examples, and what to learn before and after it.
More pairs: 朝着 vs 向 · 从而 vs 进而 · 非…不可 vs 必须 · 或多或少 vs 多多少少 · 即使…也… vs 虽然…但是… · 鉴于 vs 出于 · 时而…时而… vs 一时…一时… · 阵 vs 次 · all 81 pairs.
Frequently asked questions
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.
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