In short

To say “X is [adjective]” in Mandarin you use no 是 (shì, to be): the adjective is itself the predicate, placed straight after the subject. But a bare adjective sounds like an unfinished comparison, so Chinese slots a small degree adverb in front of it. The default, all-purpose one is 很 (hěn), which here mostly just links - it does not really mean “very.” So “she is tall” is 她很高 (tā hěn gāo), literally “she [is] tall.”

The rule

Step 1 - Adjectives don’t take 是. A Mandarin stative adjective - 高 (gāo, tall), 好 (hǎo, good), 忙 (máng, busy), 贵 (guì, expensive) - already carries the meaning “to be [that quality].” It behaves like a verb, so it needs no linking 是. Saying 她是高 is like saying “she is is-tall.” The pattern is simply:

Subject + (degree adverb) + Adjective

Step 2 - A plain statement needs a degree adverb; the default is 很. A bare adjective on its own (她高) is not neutral - it feels contrastive, as if a comparison is coming (“she’s the taller one…”). To make a flat, complete “X is [adj]” statement, you put a degree adverb in front. The workhorse is 很 (hěn). Although its dictionary meaning is “very,” in this slot it is largely bleached: 我很好 (wǒ hěn hǎo) just means “I’m fine,” not “I’m very fine.” Think of 很 as the neutral glue that lets an adjective stand as a predicate.

Step 3 - Pick the adverb for the force you want. Once you know the slot, you swap 很 for a stronger or more colourful adverb:

• 很 (hěn) - the neutral default. Genuine emphasis comes from stressing it in speech.
• 非常 (fēicháng) - “very, extremely,” and it really means it: 非常忙 (fēicháng máng, extremely busy).
• 太…了 (tài…le) - “too,” usually excessive (a complaint) or, with warmth, “so…!”. It wraps the adjective and almost always closes with 了: 太贵了 (tài guì le, too expensive).
• 真 (zhēn) - “really,” a subjective exclamation: 你真好 (nǐ zhēn hǎo, you’re really kind).
• 挺…的 (tǐng…de) - “quite, pretty,” mild and colloquial; it normally closes with 的: 挺好的 (tǐng hǎo de, pretty good).

Step 4 - Tones to watch. 很 is 3rd tone (hěn). Before another 3rd-tone adjective the two 3rd tones collide, so 很好 is written hěn hǎo but said hén hǎo (the sandhi rule from Tone sandhi (reading & pronunciation guide)). To negate an adjective you drop the adverb and use 不 before it (她不高, tā bù gāo, she isn’t tall); note that 不 becomes bú before a 4th tone, e.g. 不大 (bú dà). A yes/no question drops the adverb for the same reason, so 你忙吗？ (nǐ máng ma?) asks are you busy? while 你很忙吗？ asks are you very busy? Negation is developed in Negation with 不 and 没(有), and questions in Yes/no questions with 吗 and sentence-final particles.

Forms & patterns

Each degree adverb slots into the same predicate frame:

How the five adverbs differ in force and shape:

Examples

Common mistakes

• 她是高。 -> 她很高。 (Tā shì gāo -> Tā hěn gāo.) - An adjective is its own predicate; never link it with 是.
• 她高。 -> 她很高。 - A bare adjective sounds like an unfinished comparison. For a plain statement, add a degree adverb; 很 is the safe default.
• 太贵。 -> 太贵了。 - 太 almost always pairs with a closing 了; without it the sentence feels cut off.
• 挺好。 -> 挺好的。 - 挺 normally needs its closing 的 to sound complete.
• 我非常很忙。 -> 我非常忙。 - Use only one degree adverb; don’t stack 很 together with 非常 / 太 / 真.

Tips

• Treat 很 as neutral glue, not “very.” 我很好 = “I’m fine,” full stop. To actually emphasise, stress 很 in speech or reach for 非常.
• The tell-tale sign you need an adverb: a plain “X is [adj]” sentence. English hides the copula inside “is [adj]”; Chinese needs a filler in that spot, and 很 is the default filler.
• 太…了 and 挺…的 are two-part frames that wrap the adjective. Forgetting the closing 了 / 的 is the most common slip.
• For “-er / the most / a bit,” you leave this pattern: comparison (比, 更, 最) and the “a little” pair 有点儿 / 一点儿 belong to Comparison (比, 跟…一样, 更, 最).