Correct
非常 vs 极 vs 十分
/ fēicháng vs jí vs shífēn /
Strokes
Definition
非常, 极 and 十分 are all Adverbs, which means [very; extremely].
Example
非常, 极 and 十分 are all indicate a very high degree.
1) 十分 is more literary than 非常.
2) 极 is monosyllabic and so is usually followed by a monosyllabic adjective (e.g.极妙 wonderful, 极怪 very strange, 极强 extremely strong, etc.) but it can also precede a disyllabic word. 极 is also literary. Besides, 极 can be a complement.
3) In example ① all the three words are interchangeable because the style of the sentence could be either literal or colloquial.
2) 极 is monosyllabic and so is usually followed by a monosyllabic adjective (e.g.极妙 wonderful, 极怪 very strange, 极强 extremely strong, etc.) but it can also precede a disyllabic word. 极 is also literary. Besides, 极 can be a complement.
3) In example ① all the three words are interchangeable because the style of the sentence could be either literal or colloquial.
1
Jīntiān
今天
de
的
tiānqì
天气
fēicháng
非常
(
shí
十
fēn
分
)
(
jí
极
)
rè
热
。
It is very hot today.
极 is better because of syllabic collocation. If 非常 or 十分 is used, it is better to use 古怪, though 非常怪, 十分怪 are also fine.
1) 极 plus 了 can be a complement, while 非常, 十分 cannot be so used;
2) With a disyllabic adjective, 极其 can be used instead.
2) With a disyllabic adjective, 极其 can be used instead.
2
Tā
他
de
的
xìnggé
性格
jíguài
极怪
。
He is very eccentric.
3
Tā
他
de
的
xìnggé
性格
jíqí
极其
gǔguài
古怪
。
His personality is extremely eccentric.
4
Shāmò
沙漠
de
的
tiānqì
天气
jíqí
及其
yánrè
炎热
。
The weather in the desert is extremely hot.
Only 极了 can be used as the complement.
In the literary language, 非常之…… can be used in phrases like 非常之痛快. 极 and 十分 cannot be used like this.
5
Nàli
那里
de
的
fēngjǐng
风景
měi
美
jíle
极了
。
The scenery there is very beautiful.
6
Zhèzhǒng
这种
diànqì
电器
hǎo
好
yòng
用
jíle
极了
。
The electric appliance is very easy to use.
7
Jīntiān
今天
de
的
tiānqì
天气
,
bù
不
lěng
冷
yě
也
bù
不
rè
热
,
shūfu
舒服
jí
极
le
了
。
It is pleasing for it is neither cold nor hot today.
非常 can also mean "unusual, special". It's not an adverb, but an adjective.
8
Xiànzài
现在
shì
是
fēicháng
非常
shíqī
时期
,
rénmen
人们
yèwǎn
夜晚
bù
不
néng
能
chūmén
出门
。
It's an extraordinary time when people can't go out at night.
9
Dǎng
党
zhàokāi
召开
le
了
yī
一
cháng
场
fēicháng
非常
dàibiǎodàhuì
代表大会
。
The Party held an nonpermanent representative congress.
十分 can also mean "the whole, all". In such a case, it is not an adverb, but a phrase.
10
Tā
他
yòng
用
le
了
shí
十
fēn
分
de
的
lìqi
力气
cái
才
bāndòng
搬动
jiājù
家具
。
It took him a lot of effort to move the furniture.