adverb HSK 1
very · extremely · highly · unusually
Meaning
非常 is one of the most common adverbs in Mandarin for expressing a high degree or intensity. It means 'very' or 'extremely' and is used to intensify adjectives or verbs. This word is essential for everyday conversation and appears in both formal and informal contexts.
Usage
非常 is placed directly before the adjective or verb it modifies. It's more formal than 很 (hěn) and carries a stronger emphasis. Native speakers use it frequently in all registers. It can modify both positive traits (非常好) and negative ones (非常糟糕). Unlike 很, 非常 genuinely emphasizes 'very' without being a default modifier.
Examples
- 01今天的天气非常好。.Today's weather is very good.
- 02我非常喜欢中国菜。.I like Chinese food very much.
Characters
Common collocations
- 非常感谢thank you very much
- 非常重要very important
- 非常高兴very happy
- 非常抱歉very sorry
Antonyms
Origin
Literally combines 非 (not) + 常 (ordinary/common), thus meaning 'not ordinary' or 'uncommon', which evolved to mean 'extremely' or 'very'.