很 + Adjective
This is the default way to describe something in Chinese. To say 'X is tall/big/tired/happy,' you write Subject + 很 + Adjective. Notice there is no 是 ('is'). Chinese adjectives behave like verbs — they don't need a copula. The 很 looks like 'very,' but most of the time it's just a neutral filler that lets the adjective stand on its own. Bare adjectives without 很 sound like comparisons.
Structure
[SUBJECT] 很 [ADJ]
hěn [ADJ]
How to Think About It
Unstressed 很 is not really 'very' — it's a placeholder so the adjective doesn't sound like it's being compared to something. '他高' (without 很) implies 'he's taller (than someone)'; '他很高' is the flat, neutral 'he is tall.' Only when you stress 很 ('hěn!') does it actually mean 'very.' Think of it as grammatical glue, not an intensifier.
Examples
今天很热。
Jīntiān hěn rè.
It's hot today.
她很漂亮。
Tā hěn piàoliang.
She is pretty.
我的家很大。
Wǒ de jiā hěn dà.
My home is big.
Common Mistake
Learners add 是 between the subject and the adjective, copying English 'is.' Chinese adjectives are stative verbs already; 是 is wrong here.
他是很高。
他很高。
Don't Confuse With
太 + Adjective + 了
Use 太...了 when you actually mean 'too' or 'so' — strong feeling. 很 is neutral; 太...了 is exclamatory.
Subject + 是 + Noun
Use 是 only before nouns (他是老师). Never before adjectives.
非常 + Adjective
非常 actually means 'very, extremely.' Use it when you want real emphasis. 很 alone is mild or neutral.
Practice
这本书 ___ 好。
Show answer
很
他 很 ___。 (busy)
Show answer
忙
Arrange: 很 / 中文 / 我的 / 老师 / 好
Show answer
我的中文老师很好。
The weather is good today.
Show answer
今天天气很好。
Write a sentence describing your city using 很.
Show answer
我的城市很大，也很漂亮。
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 5 Fluentide episodes:
义乌不大。
月亮很大。
这次抗议很大。