Kilo Lingo

Mandarin · Chapter 4 · Lesson 10 · Common mistake

很 or 太?

很 is not really very, and that surprises everybody who learned it as very.

The rule

很 (hen3) is the default word that props up an adjective. Chinese adjectives cannot stand alone, so 很 fills the gap and is often barely felt. 太 (tai4) is genuinely too - excessive, and usually a complaint, normally closed with 了.

Pick the right one

0/6

Pick the right one: 很 or 太.

  1. 我好。 (I am fine)

    wǒ ___ hǎo 。 (I am fine)

  2. 这个贵了！ (this is too expensive!)

    zhè ge ___ guì le ！ (this is too expensive!)

  3. 他忙。 (he is busy)

    tā ___ máng 。 (he is busy)

  4. 好了！ (that is great!)

    ___ hǎo le ！ (that is great!)

  5. 今天热。 (it is hot today)

    jīn tiān ___ rè 。 (it is hot today)

  6. 你说得快了。 (you speak too fast)

    nǐ shuō dé ___ kuài le 。 (you speak too fast)

This gets a lesson of its own in chapter 5, where it is covered properly. This drill is the shape of it.

Read ahead: the full lesson