非常

ひじょう

emergency, extraordinary, unusual

JLPT N3

Character Breakdown

Usage of 非常

'非常' is a common adverb used to intensify adjectives or verbs, meaning 'very' or 'really'. It is more formal and stronger than just '' (hěn), often used in written and spoken Chinese to emphasize degree.

Common contexts

It frequently appears before adjectives describing feelings, conditions, or importance, such as '非常' (very good), '非常重要' (very important), or '非常' (very cold). It can also modify verbs to express strong effort or gratitude.

Collocations and patterns

Nuances

Using 非常 adds a formal and emphatic tone compared to other intensifiers like . It is suitable in both casual and formal contexts but can sound too strong if overused in casual speech.

Common confusion

Do not confuse 非常 with 非常 (emergency) as a noun; here it functions as an adverb. Also, avoid mixing 非常 with (jí), which also means 'extremely' but can carry a slightly different tone or register.

Example Sentences

It's very cold today, remember to wear more clothes.

I really like this movie; I discover something new every time I watch it.

This exam is very important; everyone must prepare seriously.

He worked very hard and finally got promoted.

Thank you very much for your help; I couldn't have done it without you.