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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing "extremely" with 不得了 (bùdéliǎo) as a complement

    HSK 4
    Degree & Intensity
    Description & Modification

    Structure

    Adjective + 得 + 不得了

    Explanation

    When used as an adjectival complement, 不得了 intensifies the preceding adjective to mean "extremely" or "terribly." It appears after an adjective with 得 to express that something has reached an overwhelming degree. For example, 热得不得了 means "extremely hot."

    Examples

    • 今天热得不得了，我一步都不想走。

      jīntiān rè de bùdéliǎo, wǒ yī bù dōu bù xiǎng zǒu.

      It's unbearably hot today; I don't want to walk a single step.

    • 孩子们高兴得不得了，一直在笑。

      háizimen gāoxìng de bùdéliǎo, yīzhí zài xiào.

      The children were incredibly happy and kept laughing.

    • 期末考试难得不得了，好多人都没及格。

      qīmò kǎoshì nán de bùdéliǎo, hǎoduō rén dōu méi jígé.

      The final exam was incredibly difficult; many people didn't pass.