Adjectives with 很 (hěn) in Chinese

Level: beginner (HSK 1). In Mandarin you do not say “I am busy” with a word for “am”. The adjective itself does the work of the verb, and a short word — most often 很 (hěn) — sits in front of it: 我很忙 (Wǒ hěn máng), “I’m busy”.

The rule

An adjective (a describing word such as busy, tall, good) behaves in Chinese like a stative verb — a verb that describes a state. So it needs no separate “to be”: you link the subject straight to the adjective.

But a bare adjective rarely stands alone in a neutral statement. Chinese normally puts a degree word in front of it, and the default one is 很 (hěn). On its own 很 (hěn) means “very”, yet in this everyday pattern it is usually unstressed and bleached — it simply links the subject to the adjective and does not really mean “very”. A truly bare adjective like 我忙 (wǒ máng) tends to sound unfinished or to imply a contrast (“I’m busy [but she isn’t]”).

To make it negative, put 不 (bù) before the adjective and drop 很 (hěn): 我不忙 (wǒ bù máng), “I’m not busy”. For a yes/no question add 吗 (ma) at the end — again with no 很 (hěn): 你忙吗？ (nǐ máng ma), “Are you busy?”

Forms at a glance

Tone notes. 不 (bù) is 4th tone on its own, but before another 4th-tone syllable it rises to bú, so 不累 (bú lèi) is said with the rising tone. And when two 3rd tones meet, the first is read as a 2nd tone: 很好 (hěn hǎo) is said hén hǎo.

Example sentences

Common mistakes

• ❌ 我是忙。 (wǒ shì máng) → ✅ 我很忙。 (wǒ hěn máng) Adjectives don’t take 是 (shì); use 很 (hěn).
• ❌ 我忙。 (wǒ máng) as a neutral statement → ✅ 我很忙。 (wǒ hěn máng) A bare adjective sounds contrastive; add the default 很 (hěn).
• ❌ 我不很忙。 (wǒ bù hěn máng) → ✅ 我不忙。 (wǒ bù máng) Drop 很 (hěn) in the negative.
• ❌ 你很忙吗？ (nǐ hěn máng ma) for a neutral question → ✅ 你忙吗？ (nǐ máng ma) Drop 很 (hěn) in a yes/no question (unless you truly mean “very”).
• ❌ 我不累 (wǒ bù lèi) said with bù → ✅ 我不累 (wǒ bú lèi). 不 (bù) rises to bú before a 4th tone.

A short conversation

A: 你今天忙吗？ (Nǐ jīntiān máng ma?) — Are you busy today? B: 我很忙。你呢？ (Wǒ hěn máng. Nǐ ne?) — I’m busy. And you? A: 我不忙。 (Wǒ bù máng.) — I’m not busy.

Usage notes

• 是…的 (shì…de) for emphasis is different. You may later see 是 (shì) with an adjective in the 是…的 (shì…de) emphasis pattern. That is a separate structure; in a plain description, keep 是 (shì) out.
• 有点儿 (yǒudiǎnr) for complaints. To say “a bit (too)” with a negative feel, use 有点儿 (yǒudiǎnr) before the adjective: 今天有点儿冷 (jīntiān yǒudiǎnr lěng), “it’s a bit cold today”.

Compared with…

• 是 (shì) sentences link two nouns (“I am a student”), not a subject to an adjective. Compare 我是学生 (wǒ shì xuéshēng, “I am a student”) with 我很高 (wǒ hěn gāo, “I’m tall”). See 是 (shì): To Be in Mandarin.

Quick recap before you practise.

Practice

Quiz

Recap cheat-sheet

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