<p>Just look at any Chinese grammar, e.g. Chinese, A Comprehensive Grammar, 4.3: degree adverbs and complements occur respectively before and after adjectives to indicate the degree or extent to which the meaning is encoded by an adjective is to be ascertained: 这本字典很好。[很degree adverb] 这本字典好得很[得很degree complement]. The presence of these degree adverbs and complements removes any implication of contrast that is latent in an unmarked predicative adjective. If somebody says: 这本字典好, the speaker must be implying that some other dictionary is not as good as this one....
Other degree adverbs are: 太、更／更加、万分、。。。。 Suspicion regarding function of 太 also is well known fact of Chinese grammar. Maybe it should be added that  不太高兴 (unhappy) is more common than 太不高兴 which latter expression seems to mean "not (very) happy" </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-12T06:18:40.900Z
Good point!  I suspect 'bu tai' may be perceived as more polite because it's softening the negative.
neubau
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-11T03:35:51.540Z
2014-09-11T03:48:50.003Z
2014-09-11T03:48:50.003Z
user6065
<p>I suspect that 太 has a similar function in negatives as 很 does in negative sentences.</p>

<p>Some Chinese speakers have corrected some of my negative sentences in include a 太.</p>

<p>e.g.: 他不高兴 was corrected to 他不太高兴.</p>

<p>How necessary is this use of 太?</p>

<p>What is it's function?</p>

<grammar>
Use of 不太 and when is it necessary?
# Use of 不太 and when is it necessary?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-09-11)

I suspect that 太 has a similar function in negatives as 很 does in negative sentences.

Some Chinese speakers have corrected some of my negative sentences in include a 太.

e.g.: 他不高兴 was corrected to 他不太高兴.

How necessary is this use of 太?

What is it's function?

**Tags:** grammar


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-09-11. Score: 2

Just look at any Chinese grammar, e.g. Chinese, A Comprehensive Grammar, 4.3: degree adverbs and complements occur respectively before and after adjectives to indicate the degree or extent to which the meaning is encoded by an adjective is to be ascertained: 这本字典很好。[很degree adverb] 这本字典好得很[得很degree complement]. The presence of these degree adverbs and complements removes any implication of contrast that is latent in an unmarked predicative adjective. If somebody says: 这本字典好, the speaker must be implying that some other dictionary is not as good as this one....
Other degree adverbs are: 太、更／更加、万分、。。。。 Suspicion regarding function of 太 also is well known fact of Chinese grammar. Maybe it should be added that 不太高兴 (unhappy) is more common than 太不高兴 which latter expression seems to mean "not (very) happy"

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Good point!  I suspect 'bu tai' may be perceived as more polite because it's softening the negative.  

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