Basic evaluation, size, and difficulty | Learn Chinese in English

About This Lesson

Use Basic evaluation, size, and difficulty to practice Chinese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

这个很好。

zhège hěn hǎo This is very good.

那个不好。

nàge bù hǎo That is not good.

这个太大了。

zhège tài dà le This is too big.

这个太小了。

zhège tài xiǎo le This is too small.

这个很容易。

zhège hěn róngyì It is very easy.

这个很难。

zhège hěn nán It is very difficult.

Word by Word

这个 “这个” means “this” or “this one” and identifies the item being described in “这个很好。” and the other descriptions beginning with “这个”. It appears before a description in the reusable pattern “这个 + description”. Use it when pointing out an item being discussed.

很 “很” gives the meaning “very” and introduces a basic description in “这个很好。”, “这个很容易。”, and “这个很难。” It comes before description words such as “好”, “容易”, and “难”, as in the pattern “很 + description”. Use it when giving a straightforward evaluation.

好 “好” means “good” in “这个很好。” It follows “很” to form the positive evaluation “很好”. Use “很好” when saying that an item or situation is good.

那个 “那个” means “that” or “that one” and identifies the item being evaluated in “那个不好。” It appears before the description in the pattern “那个 + description”. Use it when referring to another or previously indicated item.

不 “不” means “not” in “那个不好。” It comes before “好” and makes the negative evaluation “不好”. The reusable pattern is “不 + description”, used to say that something does not have a particular quality.

太 “太” means “too” or “excessively” in “太大了” and “太小了”. It marks the size as beyond the desired level and comes before the description in the pattern “太 + description + 了”. Use it when an evaluation says that something exceeds what is suitable or wanted.

大 “大” means “big” in “这个太大了。” It follows “太” and describes the item’s size before the sentence-final “了”. Use the expression “太大了” when an item is bigger than wanted.

了 The “了” at the end of “太大了” and “太小了” completes the current size assessment and presents it as a present state or conclusion. It follows the description after “太”, giving the pattern “太 + description + 了”. Use this pattern when stressing the resulting or current assessment.

小 “小” means “small” in “这个太小了。” It follows “太” and describes the item’s size before the sentence-final “了”. Use the expression “太小了” when an item is smaller than wanted.

容易 “容易” means “easy” in “这个很容易。” It follows “很” to describe the item or task as easy, forming “很容易”. Use “很容易” when giving a simple assessment of a task or situation.

难 “难” means “difficult” in “这个很难。” It follows “很” to describe the item or task as difficult, forming “很难”. Use “很难” when telling someone that a task or situation is difficult.

Grammar Points

很 + 形容词

这个很好。

zhège hěn hǎo

This is good.

In Chinese, 很 often comes before an adjective to form a natural description; it does not always mean “very.”

不 + 形容词

那个不难。

nàge bù nán

That is not difficult.

不 comes before an adjective to make a negative statement.

Chinese Vocabulary

不 adv

bù not

大 adj

dà big

好 adj

hǎo good

很 adv

hěn very

那个 pron

nàge that

难 adj

nán difficult

容易 adj

róngyì easy

太 adv

tài too

小 adj

xiǎo small

这个 pron

zhège this

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

that

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那个

this

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这个

easy

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容易