HSK 3
A + 得 + CLAUSE
A + dé + CLAUSE
so A that + CLAUSE
Structure
Subject + Adjective/Verb + 得 + Result Clause
How it works
This structure is used to describe the extent or degree of an action or a state. The 'A' is typically an adjective or an emotional verb, while the clause following '得' describes the result or the extreme intensity of that state.
Examples
妹妹饿得想哭。
Mèimei è de xiǎng kū.
My younger sister is so hungry that she wants to cry.
今天天气热得我不想出门。
Jīntiān tiānqì rè de wǒ bù xiǎng chūmén.
Today's weather is so hot that I don't want to go out.
老师忙得没时间吃饭。
Lǎoshī máng de méiyǒu shíjiān chīfàn.
The teacher is so busy that they don't have time to eat.
Common mistakes
Do not confuse this with the 'Adverb of Degree' structure (e.g., 跑得快). In the 'A + 得 + Clause' pattern, the part after '得' must describe a specific result or consequence of the state.
Tip
If you want to say 'very' or 'extremely' using this pattern, you can often use '得不得了' (de bùdéliǎo) as the result clause.
More HSK 3 grammar
See A + 得 + CLAUSE in real Chinese
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