Level 1 · Beginner
Adjectives with 很
Subj. + 很 + Adj.
To say something IS an adjective, Chinese skips 是 and links the adjective with 很 (hěn): 今天很热 "today is hot". In this job 很 barely means "very" — it's mostly glue. A bare adjective (今天热) sounds unfinished or like a comparison is coming.
To negate, swap 很 for 不: 今天不热 "today isn't hot".
Examples
我很好。
wǒ hěn hǎo
I'm fine.
今天很热。
今天很熱。
jīn tiān hěn rè
It's hot today.
这个菜很好吃。
這個菜很好吃。
zhè ge cài hěn hǎo chī
This dish is delicious.
她很漂亮。
tā hěn piào liang
She is pretty.
Common mistakes
✗ 她是漂亮。
✓ 她很漂亮。
Adjectives connect with 很, not 是.
Related grammar points
See it in a story
Read this pattern in context: The Kitten and the Puppy — free graded stories with tap-to-reveal pinyin and translations.
