很 + Adj
Reach for 很 + adjective when you want to describe somebody or something in the most basic way — 'he is tall,' 'this is delicious,' 'I'm tired.' Chinese adjectives skip the verb 'to be' entirely: 他是高 is wrong; 他很高 is right. The 很 sits where 'is' would in English, even when you don't mean 'very.' It is the default neutral form for affirmative description at HSK 1 and the backbone of every short Chinese sentence about feelings, weather, food, and people.
Structure
[SUBJECT] 很 [ADJ]
hěn + [adjective]
How to Think About It
很 here is a placeholder, not 'very.' Adjectives in Chinese act like verbs ('to be tall' is just 高), but a bare adjective on its own sounds like a comparison or an unfinished thought. 很 fills the spot to make the sentence neutral and complete. Native ears barely hear 很 in this position — to genuinely mean 'very,' speakers stress the 很 or upgrade to 非常.
Examples
今天很冷。
Jīntiān hěn lěng.
It's cold today.
这个菜很好吃。
Zhège cài hěn hǎochī.
This dish is delicious.
我妈妈很忙。
Wǒ māma hěn máng.
My mom is busy.
Common Mistake
Learners insert 是 between subject and adjective because English needs a linking verb. Chinese adjectives ARE the predicate — 是 makes the sentence ungrammatical.
他是高。
他很高。
Don't Confuse With
非常 + Adj
Use 非常 when you actually mean 'very, extremely.' 很 is the neutral default; 非常 carries real emphasis. '他很高' = he's tall; '他非常高' = he's extremely tall.
Adj + Noun (modifier)
When an adjective modifies a noun directly inside a phrase, you don't use 很 — you use 的 or nothing for monosyllables. '红的车' or '好人' is modification; '车很红' or '人很好' is predication.
Adj + 一点 / 一些
Adds 'a little' instead of neutral description. Use 一点 to soften — '今天冷一点' (a bit cold today). Different vibe from neutral 很冷.
Practice
他 ___ 高。
Show answer
很
今天的天气很 ___。 (an adjective for warm)
Show answer
暖和
Put in order: [很 / 这 / 书 / 有意思 / 本]
Show answer
这本书很有意思。
Translate to Chinese: 'My cat is fat.'
Show answer
我的猫很胖。
Describe your mood today in one sentence using 很 + adjective.
Show answer
Example answer: 我今天很开心。 (I'm very happy today.)
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 2 Fluentide episodes:
Related Grammar Patterns
Acquire by listening
Hear 很 + Adj in real Chinese, not in a textbook.
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