HSK 7
程度补语3
chéng dù bǔ yǔ 3
Degree complement 3 (程度补语3)
Explanation
These are degree complements (the element after an adjective/verb that indicates degree) used to emphasize that the preceding adjective/verb reaches a VERY high degree, with a colloquial and exaggerated flavor.
(1) adjective/verb + 得 (de, a particle linking the complement) + 不行 (bùxíng); (2) adjective/verb + 得 (de) + 要命 (yàomìng) / 要死 (yàosǐ).
累得要死 (lèi de yàosǐ = dead tired).
in colloquial speech, when you want to complain about or brag about a degree in an exaggerated way ('... terribly', '... to death'). 要命/要死 sound more exaggerated and casual than 不行.
不行 (bùxíng) stresses 'to the point of being unbearable'; 要命/要死 (yàomìng/yàosǐ) are even more exaggerated; all three stand AFTER 得, unlike 极为, which stands before.
forgetting the character 得 (wrong: 累要死 → correct: 累得要死); and these very colloquial phrases are inappropriate in formal writing.
Examples
Formula (1): Adjective / Verb + 得 (de) + 不行 (bùxíng) — expressing the degree '... to the point of being unbearable'.
Finally getting to go traveling, the son was thrilled beyond bearing.
Back in school, I loathed P.E. class terribly too.
Formula (2): Adjective / Verb + 得 (de) + 要命 / 要死 (yàomìng / yàosǐ) — expressing the degree '... terribly, ... to death'.
He isn't big, but he has a terribly fierce temper.
I've been so busy lately, dead tired every single day.
Practice
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Learn “程度补语3” effectively
The grammar point “程度补语3” (Degree complement 3 (程度补语3)) is one of the key structures at HSK 7. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
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