透了 for an Extreme State in Chinese
动词/形容词＋透了
After selected verbs and adjectives, 透了 expresses that an undesirable state has reached an extreme or thorough degree. 透 is a bound resultative complement in this pattern and comes directly after the predicate, followed by 了. The combination is lexically restricted, so learners should use established collocations such as 伤透了 and 坏透了.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Adjective / Mental-state verb + 透 + 了
Read the structure
After selected verbs and adjectives, 透了 expresses that an undesirable state has reached an extreme or thorough degree. 透 is a bound resultative complement in this pattern and comes directly after the predicate, followed by 了. The combination is lexically restricted, so learners should use established collocations such as 伤透了 and 坏透了. Keep the model Adjective / Mental-state verb + 透 + 了 visible while you compare each sentence.
这件事伤透了她的心。
This matter broke her heart completely.
Choose the right context
Describe deep emotional hurt: 这件事伤透了她的心。 Condemn something as thoroughly bad: 这个主意坏透了。 Express complete disappointment: 我对他的表现失望透了。
这种自私的做法坏透了。
This selfish behavior is utterly terrible.
Respect the boundary
Do not use 透了 after any adjective without checking whether the collocation is established. Do not insert 得 between the predicate and 透 in this resultative pattern. Do not place 了 before 透; the complement must remain attached to its predicate.
这个主意坏得透了。
(This idea is bad to the extreme.)
Repair the pattern
得 is incorrectly inserted before the resultative complement: In 坏透了, 透 attaches directly as a resultative complement. It is not introduced by the degree-complement marker 得. 了 splits the predicate from its complement: 失望透 is the predicate-complement unit, and 了 follows that complete unit rather than separating its parts.
这个主意坏透了。
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.
这件事伤透了她的心。
This matter broke her heart completely.
这
Adjective / Mental-state verb
This part occupies the Adjective / Mental-state verb position in the model pattern.
件
透
This part occupies the 透 position in the model pattern.
事
了
This part occupies the 了 position in the model pattern.
伤
Adjective / Mental-state verb
This part occupies the Adjective / Mental-state verb position in the model pattern.
透了
透
This part occupies the 透 position in the model pattern.
她的
了
This part occupies the 了 position in the model pattern.
心
Adjective / Mental-state verb
This part occupies the Adjective / Mental-state 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.
这件事伤透了她的心。
This matter broke her heart completely.
这种自私的做法坏透了。
This selfish behavior is utterly terrible.
我对他的态度失望透了。
I am completely disappointed by his attitude.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Describe deep emotional hurt: 这件事伤透了她的心。
- Condemn something as thoroughly bad: 这个主意坏透了。
- Express complete disappointment: 我对他的表现失望透了。
Do not use it when
- Do not use 透了 after any adjective without checking whether the collocation is established.
- Do not insert 得 between the predicate and 透 in this resultative pattern.
- Do not place 了 before 透; the complement must remain attached to its predicate.
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.
这个主意坏得透了。
这个主意坏透了。
得 is incorrectly inserted before the resultative complement
In 坏透了, 透 attaches directly as a resultative complement. It is not introduced by the degree-complement marker 得.
我对他失望了透。
我对他失望透了。
了 splits the predicate from its complement
失望透 is the predicate-complement unit, and 了 follows that complete unit rather than separating its parts.
这个主意坏得透了。
In 坏透了, 透 attaches directly as a resultative complement. It is not introduced by the degree-complement marker 得.
我对他失望了透。
失望透 is the predicate-complement unit, and 了 follows that complete unit rather than separating its parts.
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 动词/形容词＋透了.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 动词/形容词＋透了. 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
透了 for an Extreme State Questions
Is 透 literal in 坏透了?
No. It is a resultative complement meaning thoroughly or to an extreme in an established evaluative combination.
Can 透了 follow every adjective?
No. Its distribution is lexical. Learn common combinations such as 坏透了, 伤透了, and 失望透了.
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 5 grammar inventory, item 五36(2) (A.5.4.3), PDF page 227: 动词/形容词＋坏/透＋了
Supports placement in HSK 5; it does not independently establish the usage explanation.
Official sourceModern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Chapter 18, section 18.3, resultative suffixes, and Chapter 32, result and conclusion complements
Explains that resultative suffixes attach directly to predicates before aspect marking; lexical combinations can express a resulting or thorough state.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Compare
来得及 / 来不及来得及 / 来不及: In Time or Too Late
Compare this lesson with 来得及 or 来不及 evaluating whether time permits completion; both belong to potential, attainable, and extreme results, but they organize a different sentence role or discourse job.
Compare
动词＋得/不得Potential Complement with 得 or 不得
Compare this lesson with verb plus 得 or 不得 marking possibility or permission; both belong to potential, attainable, and extreme results, but they organize a different sentence role or discourse job.
Compare
形容词＋得不得了得不得了 for an Extreme Degree
Compare this lesson with 得不得了 presenting an extreme degree; both belong to potential, attainable, and extreme results, but they organize a different sentence role or discourse job.
Continue learning
完/到/见Result Complements (完/到/见)
Continue with the reviewed follow-up lesson to apply this pattern inside a broader, explicitly connected grammar construction.
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