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How to express extreme degree with 得 (de) in Chinese

Adj. + 得 (de) + 很 (hěn) / 不得了 (bù de le) / 要命 (yàomìng) / 不行 (bùxíng)

得 (dé) — advanced degree complements

HSK 5Complements

Rule structure

Degree complements describe the extent or degree of an action or state. Advanced forms often use full clauses or vivid expressions after 得 (de) to depict extreme situations.

Examples

他气得说不出话来。

Tā qì de shuō bù chū huà lái.

He was so angry that he couldn’t speak.

Practice

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Characters

Words from this rule

得

de

Structural particle, indicates manner or result of an action

很

hěn

Very

不得了

bù dé liǎo

Extremely, terribly

要

yào

To want, need, to intend to do something

不

bù

No, not

行

xíng

To go, OK, alright

他

tā

He

说

shuō

To speak, to say, to tell

出

chū

To go out; (directional verb indicating outward movement)

来

lái

To come

Frequently asked questions

How do you say “advanced degree complements” in Chinese with 得?

Use the structure: Adj. + 得 (de) + 很 (hěn) / 不得了 (bù de le) / 要命 (yàomìng) / 不行 (bùxíng). For example: 他气得说不出话来。 — “He was so angry that he couldn’t speak”.

What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?

他气得说不出话来。 — “He was so angry that he couldn’t speak”.

Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?

This grammar rule is part of HSK 5.

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More HSK 5 grammar rules

坏了 — extremely, awfully

Verb / Adj. + 坏了 (huàile)

来 vs 去 — verbing around

Verb 1 + 来 (lái) + Verb 1 + 去 (qù)

住, 开, 出来 — result complements

Verb + 住 (zhù) / 开 (kāi) / 出 (chū)(来 (lái))

得 / 不 — potential complements

Verb + 得 (de) / 不 (bù) + Result Complement

到 — tricky uses of 到

Verb + 到 (dào)

着 — result of an action

Verb + 着 (zháo)

了 — completed action with complement

Verb + Complement + 了 (le) + (Obj.)

万一 — what if

万一 (wànyī) + (Undesirable) Condition + 怎么办 (zěnme bàn)？