Introduction
他身体很好。(Tā shēntǐ hěn hǎo.) — word for word, "He, body very good". English needs "His health is good"; Chinese names the person first, then puts a whole little sentence after them saying which part of them is how.
Overview
Structure: Topic + [Subj. + Adj. / Verb]
| Pattern | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Topic + S + Adj. | 他身体很好。(Tā shēntǐ hěn hǎo.) | He's in good health. |
| Topic + S + Adj. | 这个孩子眼睛很大。(Zhège háizi yǎnjing hěn dà.) | This child has big eyes. |
| Topic + S + Verb | 我头疼。(Wǒ tóu téng.) | I have a headache. |
| Negative | 他身体不太好。(Tā shēntǐ bú tài hǎo.) | He's not in great health. |
| With 的 instead | 他的身体很好。(Tā de shēntǐ hěn hǎo.) | His health is good. |
The second noun is a part of the first, and the negative goes with it:
- 他身体很好 (Tā shēntǐ hěn hǎo) reads as 他 (tā) + [身体很好 (shēntǐ hěn hǎo)] — the whole back half is a comment on 他 (tā).
- 的 (de) is also correct but shifts the focus: 他的身体很好 (Tā de shēntǐ hěn hǎo) is about the health; 他身体很好 (Tā shēntǐ hěn hǎo) is about him.
- ✓ 他身体不太好。(Tā shēntǐ bú tài hǎo.) ❌ 他不身体好。(Tā bù shēntǐ hǎo.)
- The adjective still needs 很 (hěn) or another degree word, exactly as in a plain adjective sentence.
Examples
他身体很好。
Tā shēntǐ hěn hǎo.
He's in good health.
我今天头疼。
Wǒ jīntiān tóu téng.
I've got a headache today.
这个孩子眼睛很大。
Zhège háizi yǎnjing hěn dà.
This child has big eyes.
他汉语说得很好。
Tā Hànyǔ shuō de hěn hǎo.
He speaks Chinese well.
我妈妈身体不太好。
Wǒ māma shēntǐ bú tài hǎo.
My mum isn't in great health.
他们家人很多。
Tāmen jiā rén hěn duō.
Their family is a big one.
Usage Notes
- The pattern is everywhere with the body and with abilities: 身体 (shēntǐ)、头 (tóu)、眼睛 (yǎnjing)、汉语 (Hànyǔ)、工作 (gōngzuò)、学习 (xuéxí).
- It is the natural way to ask after someone: 你身体怎么样？(Nǐ shēntǐ zěnmeyàng?) — how's your health?
- A place or a group works as the topic too: 他们家人很多。(Tāmen jiā rén hěn duō.)
- Time words go after the topic, before the inner subject: 我今天头疼。(Wǒ jīntiān tóu téng.)
- Do not read the first noun as the subject of the adjective. 他身体很好 (Tā shēntǐ hěn hǎo) does not mean 他很好 (Tā hěn hǎo) — it is his health that is good.