AP Chinese Language & Culture · Unit 2: Personal & Public Identities

2.2 Adjectives with 很 (hěn)

No 是 with adjectives

With adjectives, Chinese does not use 是. Instead, an adjective acts like a verb, usually with 很 (hěn) before it: 她很高 (tā hěn gāo) = She is tall.

很 is often just a link

Though 很 means 'very,' in this pattern it's often just a neutral connector, not strong emphasis. 我很好 (wǒ hěn hǎo) = 'I am fine,' not necessarily 'very good.'

Negation

Negate an adjective with 不 (bù), replacing 很: 她不高 (tā bù gāo) = She is not tall. Question form uses 吗 (ma): 你好吗？(nǐ hǎo ma?) = How are you?

Key terms

Adjective pattern: no 是; use 很: 她很高 (She is tall)
很 (hěn): 'very,' but often just a neutral link
不 (bù): negates an adjective: 不高 (not tall)
吗 (ma): yes/no question particle: 你好吗？
Key rule: 是 links nouns; adjectives use 很

Try an AP-style question

Why is 很 used in "我很忙"?

It replaces 是
It always means "very" strongly
It makes a question
Adjectives need a link, like 很

Show the answer

D. Default adverb.

Practice 8 AP-style questions with instant explanations, flashcards and spaced review.

Study 2.2 free in APrep