得很 vs 极了: 两种形容词程度表达
After adjectives, Chinese uses either a complement with 得 (such as 得很 or 得不得了) or the suffix 极了 to express a high degree. Both are common in spoken language, but differ in structure: 得很 attaches via 得, while 极了 directly follows the adjective. They are often interchangeable, but 极了 carries a slightly stronger emphasis.
To express a high degree after an adjective, Mandarin Chinese offers two main patterns: the complement structure with 得 (e.g., 得很, 得不得了) and the suffix 极了. The key difference is structural: 得很 requires the particle 得 between the adjective and the complement, while 极了 attaches directly without 得. Both are informal and common in everyday speech, though 极了 can sound slightly more emphatic. Neither is used in formal or written Chinese.
When to use each
Use 得 after an adjective followed by a degree complement like 很, 不得了, 要命 to indicate a high degree. This structure is very common in spoken Chinese with adjectives such as 好, 累, 忙, 坏. For example, 好得很 means 'very good'.
The complement can vary in intensity: 得很 is moderate, 得不得了 is stronger, and 得要命 is even stronger.
Attach 极了 directly to the adjective (without 得) to mean 'extremely'. It is used after adjectives like 好, 坏, 累, 冷, 热. Example: 好极了 means 'excellent' or 'extremely good'.
While 极了 and 得很 are often interchangeable, 极了 may imply a subjective, emphatic judgment, similar to 'extremely' or 'fantastically'.
At a glance
| 得 | 极了 | |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | adjective + 得 + complement (e.g., 好得很) | adjective + 极了 (e.g., 好极了) |
| Requirement of 得 | Must have 得 before the complement | No 得; 极了 attaches directly |
| Intensity | Moderate to strong (depends on complement) | Strong, often emphatic |
| Negation | Can be negated (e.g., 不好得很) but rare and awkward | Cannot be negated (不极了 is ungrammatical) |
| Formality | Informal | Informal, slightly less formal than 得很? |
Examples
- 得好得很hǎo de hěnvery goodCommon pattern with 得很 for high degree.
- 极了好极了hǎo jíleexcellent / extremely good极了 attaches directly, no 得.
- 得累得不得了lèi de bùdéliǎoextremely tired得不得了 is stronger than 得很.
- 极了累极了lèi jíleextremely tiredSame meaning as 累得不得了, different structure.
- 得坏得很huài de hěnvery badCan be used with negative adjectives.
- 极了坏极了huài jíleextremely badAlso works with negative adjectives.
Common mistakes
- Using 极了 with 得: e.g., 好得极了 is wrong; 极了 attaches directly, no 得.
- Omitting 得 when using 很 as complement: e.g., 好很 is incorrect; must write 好得很.
- Using 完了 as a degree complement: e.g., 好完了 is ungrammatical. Use 得很 or 极了 instead.
- Using 极了 with an adverb before adjective: e.g., 很好极了 is wrong; use either 很好 or 好极了, not both.
FAQ
- When do I use 得很 vs 极了?
- Both express high degree after adjectives, and are often interchangeable. However, 得很 is a complement pattern requiring 得, while 极了 is a suffix without 得. 极了 can sound slightly more emphatic. The choice is mainly structural and personal preference; for example, 好得很 and 好极了 both mean 'very good', but 好极了 is often translated as 'excellent'.
- Can I use 极了 with any adjective?
- Yes, 极了 can be used with most common adjectives (好, 坏, 累, 忙, 冷, 热, etc.). It is informal and emphasizes an extreme degree. Avoid using it in formal writing.
- Is there a difference in intensity between 得很 and 极了?
- Both indicate a high degree, but 极了 often carries a stronger, more emphatic feeling (like 'extremely' or 'fantastically'). 得很 is more neutral but can be intensified by using 得不得了 or 得要命. In everyday usage, they are generally interchangeable.
- Can I use 得 and 极了 together?
- No. They are mutually exclusive structures. You cannot say 好得极了; you must choose either 好得很 (or other 得 complement) or 好极了.