Degree Complements 得很, 极了, and 死了 in Chinese
程度补语：得很、极了、死了
The fixed complements 得很, 极了, and 死了 follow an adjective or compatible psychological verb to express a high or extreme degree. 得很 is evaluative, 极了 strongly intensifies, and 死了 is colloquial and emotionally charged. These are post-predicate complements, unlike degree adverbs placed before an adjective.
Published August 7, 2026
Reviewed August 7, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Adjective/Psychological Verb + 得很/极了/死了
Read the structure
The fixed complements 得很, 极了, and 死了 follow an adjective or compatible psychological verb to express a high or extreme degree. 得很 is evaluative, 极了 strongly intensifies, and 死了 is colloquial and emotionally charged. These are post-predicate complements, unlike degree adverbs placed before an adjective. Keep the model Adjective/Psychological Verb + 得很/极了/死了 visible while you compare each sentence.
今天冷得很。
It is very cold today.
Choose the right context
Intensify a compatible adjective after the predicate. Use 极了 for a strong high-degree evaluation. Use 死了 colloquially for an emotionally extreme state.
听到这个消息，我高兴极了。
I was extremely happy to hear the news.
Respect the boundary
Do not place 极了 before the adjective. Do not reverse 死 and its adjective predicate. Do not treat every adjective as equally natural with every fixed complement.
听到这个消息，我极了高兴。
(Hearing this news, I extremely happy.)
Repair the pattern
极了 precedes its predicate: Fixed degree complement 极了 follows the adjective 高兴. 死了 is reversed around the adjective: The adjective comes first and the fixed complement 死了 follows it.
听到这个消息，我高兴极了。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
今天冷得很。
It is very cold today.
今天
Adjective/Psychological Verb
This part occupies the Adjective/Psychological Verb position in the model pattern.
冷
得很/极了/死了
This part occupies the 得很/极了/死了 position in the model pattern.
得很
Adjective/Psychological Verb
This part occupies the Adjective/Psychological Verb position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
今天冷得很。
It is very cold today.
听到这个消息，我高兴极了。
I was extremely happy to hear the news.
走了这么远，我累死了。
After walking so far, I am exhausted.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Intensify a compatible adjective after the predicate.
- Use 极了 for a strong high-degree evaluation.
- Use 死了 colloquially for an emotionally extreme state.
Do not use it when
- Do not place 极了 before the adjective.
- Do not reverse 死 and its adjective predicate.
- Do not treat every adjective as equally natural with every fixed complement.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
听到这个消息，我极了高兴。
听到这个消息，我高兴极了。
极了 precedes its predicate
Fixed degree complement 极了 follows the adjective 高兴.
走了这么远，我死累了。
走了这么远，我累死了。
死了 is reversed around the adjective
The adjective comes first and the fixed complement 死了 follows it.
听到这个消息，我极了高兴。
Fixed degree complement 极了 follows the adjective 高兴.
走了这么远，我死累了。
The adjective comes first and the fixed complement 死了 follows it.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 程度补语：得很、极了、死了.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 程度补语：得很、极了、死了. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
Degree Complements 得很, 极了, and 死了 Questions
Is 死了 literal in 累死了?
Usually not. In this degree-complement use it is a colloquial intensifier, although literal result readings exist in other contexts.
Can I put 很 before the adjective instead?
Often yes, but adjective plus 得很 is a post-predicate evaluative form with different rhythm and discourse effect. The pre-adjective pattern is usually neutral description, while the complement pattern can sound more like a speaker's assessment after presenting the quality.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 3 item 【三49】, PDF p. 206 (printed p. 200)
Places adjective or psychological verb plus 得很、极了、死了 degree complements at Level 3 with representative examples.
Official source现代汉语语法课程讲义
包头师范学院 · 包头师范学院 · 2024
Locator: Complements, slide 38
Defines degree complements after adjective-centered predicates and illustrates the high-degree pattern 高兴极了.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Easy to confuse
格外 / 极 / 极其格外、极、极其: High Degree
Compare degree words placed before a predicate with fixed complements placed after it.
Easy to confuse
形容词＋得不得了得不得了 for an Extreme Degree
得不得了 is a specialized extreme form beside the broader 得很极了死了 inventory.
Compare
够……的Evaluative High Degree with 够……的
够X的 gives an evaluative assessment, while these fixed complements grade the predicate afterward.
Learn first
得The 得 (de) Complement
Review postverbal 得 before separating fixed degree forms from ordinary state complements.
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Easy to confuse
Compare degree words placed before a predicate with fixed complements placed after it.