<p>I am not a linguist. As Chinese is my first language, I can describe how I use these 2 words.
很is like English word 'very', its place in a sentence is aways before another adjective. While 得很 is more intense, and it usually follows another adjective.
For example:  a, 这件东西很好。b,这件东西好得很。Both sentence a and b mean 'This thing is very good.', but sentence b is stronger in feelings.</p>

<hr>

<p><strong>很 + adjective</strong> can be followed by nouns, but <strong>adjective + 得很</strong> can not.</p>

<p>For example: 很高的山峰</p>

<p>But we don't say: 高得很的山峰. It is just wrong.</p>

<p>I would say <strong>adjective + 得很</strong> alomst always comes (with or without modal particle) at the end of a sentence.</p>

<p>For example:</p>

<p>这屋子 <strong>脏得很</strong> 。</p>

<p>你的字， <strong>好得很嘛</strong> 。你怎么说不好呢？</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-19T08:56:51.690Z
Thanks, but what about the difference in formality?
tao
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-19T18:46:50.950Z
@tao The two can both be formal. Adding to the answer that `得很` can be used to emphasize a property in a large degree. Say `这件东西好得很！` can be interpreted like `This thing is exceptionally great!`. In another way, if `很好` means 5 out of 10, `好得很` can be used for higher scores, like 9/10.
StoneBird
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-19T06:50:51.023Z
2014-02-19T19:46:26.817Z
2014-02-19T19:46:26.817Z
Jason
<p>Since learning the adjective + 得很 rule I have only seen it once in writing with a two syllable adjective。
What are the differences in register and／or meaning between 很 + adjective and adjective+得很？ </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-02-20T00:35:55.380Z
Example: 很懒 or 懒得很
going
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-23T15:33:22.053Z
The form 很 + adj is commonly seen in Mandarin, while adj + 得很 is rarely used in  Mandarin or official occasion like TV programs, but common in most northern dialects.
xenophōn
<word-choice><adjectives>
What is the difference between 很 + adjective and adjective + 得很
# What is the difference between 很 + adjective and adjective + 得很

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-02-19)

Since learning the adjective + 得很 rule I have only seen it once in writing with a two syllable adjective。
What are the differences in register and／or meaning between 很 + adjective and adjective+得很？

**Tags:** word-choice, adjectives

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Example: 很懒 or 懒得很  
> **username_2**: The form 很 + adj is commonly seen in Mandarin, while adj + 得很 is rarely used in  Mandarin or official occasion like TV programs, but common in most northern dialects.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-02-19. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

I am not a linguist. As Chinese is my first language, I can describe how I use these 2 words.
很is like English word 'very', its place in a sentence is aways before another adjective. While 得很 is more intense, and it usually follows another adjective.
For example: a, 这件东西很好。b,这件东西好得很。Both sentence a and b mean 'This thing is very good.', but sentence b is stronger in feelings.

---

**很 + adjective** can be followed by nouns, but **adjective + 得很** can not.

For example: 很高的山峰

But we don't say: 高得很的山峰. It is just wrong.

I would say **adjective + 得很** alomst always comes (with or without modal particle) at the end of a sentence.

For example:

这屋子 **脏得很** 。

你的字， **好得很嘛** 。你怎么说不好呢？

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks, but what about the difference in formality?  
> **username_4**: @username_0 The two can both be formal. Adding to the answer that `得很` can be used to emphasize a property in a large degree. Say `这件东西好得很！` can be interpreted like `This thing is exceptionally great!`. In another way, if `很好` means 5 out of 10, `好得很` can be used for higher scores, like 9/10.  

---

