Since learning the adjective + 得很 rule I have only seen it once in writing with a two syllable adjective。 What are the differences in register and／or meaning between 很 + adjective and adjective+得很？
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Example: 很懒 or 懒得很 – going Feb 20 '14 at 0:35
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The form 很 + adj is commonly seen in Mandarin, while adj + 得很 is rarely used in Mandarin or official occasion like TV programs, but common in most northern dialects. – 賈可 Jacky Feb 23 at 15:33
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I am not a linguist. As Chinese is my first language, I can describe how I use these 2 words. 很is like English word 'very', its place in a sentence is aways before another adjective. While 得很 is more intense, and it usually follows another adjective. For example: a, 这件东西很好。b,这件东西好得很。Both sentence a and b mean 'This thing is very good.', but sentence b is stronger in feelings.
很 + adjective can be followed by nouns, but adjective + 得很 can not.
For example: 很高的山峰
But we don't say: 高得很的山峰. It is just wrong.
I would say adjective + 得很 alomst always comes (with or without modal particle) at the end of a sentence.
For example:
这屋子 脏得很 。
你的字， 好得很嘛 。你怎么说不好呢？
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@tao The two can both be formal. Adding to the answer that
得很can be used to emphasize a property in a large degree. Say这件东西好得很！can be interpreted likeThis thing is exceptionally great!. In another way, if很好means 5 out of 10,好得很can be used for higher scores, like 9/10. – StoneBird Feb 19 '14 at 18:46
