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HSK 2.0 Level 1+ HSK 3.0 Level 1+ 6 min read

很 with Adjectives

Use 很 to make simple adjective sentences sound complete.

Pattern

Subject + 很 + adjective

很 often links a subject to an adjective without meaning “very.”

她今天很忙。

When to use 很 with Adjectives

In beginner Chinese, adjectives can behave like verbs, but a bare subject + adjective can sound contrastive. 很 fills the sentence out naturally.

这个菜很好吃。

This dish is tasty.

我很高兴。

I am happy.

天气很好。

The weather is good.

他不忙。

He is not busy.

Common traps

  • Do not put 是 before normal adjectives.
  • 很 does not always mean an intense “very.”
  • Use 不 before 很 for negation: 不很 is rare; 不太 is often better for “not very.”

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

她今天 忙。

Missing grammar piece
Meanings
very; linking adverb before adjectives