未免: A Softened Objection in Chinese
未免
未免 marks a speaker's softened negative evaluation: a situation seems excessive, inappropriate, or short of what is expected. It commonly precedes degree phrases such as 太, 过于, 有些, 不够, or 不太, but none is mandatory in every sentence. Unlike 难免, it evaluates rather than predicts an unavoidable outcome.
Published July 16, 2026
Reviewed July 16, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Subject + 未免 + 太/过于/有些 + Predicate
Read the structure
未免 marks a speaker's softened negative evaluation: a situation seems excessive, inappropriate, or short of what is expected. It commonly precedes degree phrases such as 太, 过于, 有些, 不够, or 不太, but none is mandatory in every sentence. Unlike 难免, it evaluates rather than predicts an unavoidable outcome. Keep the model Subject + 未免 + 太/过于/有些 + Predicate visible while you compare each sentence.
这个价格未免太高了。
This price seems rather too high.
Choose the right context
To soften criticism of an excessive situation: 这个价格未免太高了。 To signal that an action seems inappropriate or unfair: 把所有责任都推给他，未免不太公平。 To calibrate the evaluation: 过于, 有些, 不大, and 不够 can follow 未免 directly, while 一点 follows the predicate as in 未免早了一点。
你这样批评新人，未免有些严厉。
Criticizing a newcomer this way seems a little harsh.
Respect the boundary
For an outcome that is hard to avoid; that meaning belongs to 难免 rather than the evaluative 未免. Do not require 太 or another degree marker in every sentence. They are frequent partners, not an exceptionless frame. Do not treat every sentence containing 未免 as a grammar error merely because the criticism is subjective or context-dependent.
这个价格未免了太高。
(This price seems rather too high.)
Repair the pattern
The aspect particle 了 is inserted before the degree phrase: 未免 directly scopes over the evaluation 太高. The aspect or change-of-state particle 了 cannot split the adverb from that phrase; it belongs after 太高 here. 太 is placed before the modal adverb 未免: 未免 evaluates the whole degree phrase 太高, so it comes first. Reversing the two adverbs as 太未免 breaks that scope and word order.
这个价格未免太高了。
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.
这个价格未免太高了。
This price seems rather too high.
这个
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
价格
未免
This part occupies the 未免 position in the model pattern.
未免太
太/过于/有些
This part occupies the 太/过于/有些 position in the model pattern.
高
Predicate
This part occupies the Predicate position in the model pattern.
了
Subject
This part occupies the Subject 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.
这个价格未免太高了。
This price seems rather too high.
你这样批评新人，未免有些严厉。
Criticizing a newcomer this way seems a little harsh.
把所有责任都推给他，未免不太公平。
Putting all the responsibility on him hardly seems fair.
只看一次结果就下结论，未免过于草率。
Drawing a conclusion from one result seems overly hasty.
会议刚开始就要求表决，未免早了一点。
Calling for a vote as soon as the meeting starts seems a little early.
这份说明写得未免不够清楚。
This explanation seems insufficiently clear.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- To soften criticism of an excessive situation: 这个价格未免太高了。
- To signal that an action seems inappropriate or unfair: 把所有责任都推给他，未免不太公平。
- To calibrate the evaluation: 过于, 有些, 不大, and 不够 can follow 未免 directly, while 一点 follows the predicate as in 未免早了一点。
Do not use it when
- For an outcome that is hard to avoid; that meaning belongs to 难免 rather than the evaluative 未免.
- Do not require 太 or another degree marker in every sentence. They are frequent partners, not an exceptionless frame.
- Do not treat every sentence containing 未免 as a grammar error merely because the criticism is subjective or context-dependent.
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.
这个价格未免了太高。
这个价格未免太高了。
The aspect particle 了 is inserted before the degree phrase
未免 directly scopes over the evaluation 太高. The aspect or change-of-state particle 了 cannot split the adverb from that phrase; it belongs after 太高 here.
这个价格太未免高了。
这个价格未免太高了。
太 is placed before the modal adverb 未免
未免 evaluates the whole degree phrase 太高, so it comes first. Reversing the two adverbs as 太未免 breaks that scope and word order.
这个价格未免了太高。
Do not put 了 between 未免 and 太高. Say 这个价格未免太高了。
这个价格太未免高了。
Put 未免 before the degree phrase 太高: 这个价格未免太高了。
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 未免.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 未免. 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
未免: A Softened Objection Questions
What does 未免 mean in Chinese?
It presents a situation as excessive, inappropriate, or below expectation while softening the objection. The judgment still comes from the speaker, even when the tone sounds restrained.
What is the difference between 未免 and 难免?
未免 evaluates a situation negatively: 这样做未免太草率. 难免 predicts that an unwanted result is difficult to avoid: 第一次上台难免紧张.
Must 未免 be followed by 太?
No. 过于, 有些, 不大, and 不够 can follow 未免 directly. 一点 has a different position: it follows the predicate in a form such as 未免早了一点, not 未免一点早.
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.
Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Construction index and function chapters relevant to 未免
Supports the learner-facing account of where 未免 appears and what communicative job it performs.
Official sourceChinese: A Comprehensive Grammar, 2nd ed.
Yip and Rimmington · Routledge · 2016
Locator: Relevant sentence and clause chapters for 未免
Cross-checks the Subject + 未免 + 太/过于/有些 + Predicate pattern, clause relationship, and limits represented by the reviewed examples.
Official sourceChinese 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, combined Levels 7–9 grammar inventory
Supports directory placement at HSK 8 as an internal subdivision of the official advanced band; it does not independently prove usage rules.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Compare
巴不得巴不得 (bābude): Eager Wish
Compare restrained criticism with an intense wish or eagerness.
Compare
固然…但是固然...但是: Granted, Yet
Compare restrained criticism with acknowledging a point before qualifying it.
Easy to confuse
有点儿/一点儿有点儿 vs 一点儿: A Little
Compare restrained criticism with a simple small-degree negative description.
Easy to confuse
不免不免 for an Unavoidable Reaction or Outcome
未免 evaluates excess, whereas the similarly formed 不免 marks an unavoidable reaction or consequence.
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Compare restrained criticism with an intense wish or eagerness.