很差
hěn chà
In Chinese, the phrase for "very bad" is 很差 (hěn chà).
很差 is used to describe something of very low quality or a poor standard.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of 很 (hěn), meaning "very" and 差 (chà), which means "bad" or "poor" in the sense of lacking or falling short of a standard.
Which one should you use?
While 很差 describes low quality or poor performance, you should use 很坏 (hěn huài) to describe bad character, evil people or broken objects.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Chinese, you do not use the verb "to be" (是 shì) before an adjective like 很差. Instead, you use 很 (hěn) to link the subject to the adjective.
How do you pronounce it?
hěn chà
Did you know?
- The word 差 (chà) is used to tell time when minutes are missing from the hour, such as saying it is 'five short' of ten. In this context, it means 'lacking' rather than 'bad'.
- Chinese speakers often avoid saying 很差 (hěn chà) directly to someone's face to save 'face' (面子 miànzi). They might instead use a double negative or a vague phrase like 'there is room for improvement'.
- In many Chinese dialects, including Mandarin, you might hear people use the word 烂 (làn) instead of 差 to describe bad quality. While 烂 literally means 'rotten', it is used colloquially to describe anything from a bad movie to a poor-quality product.
Examples in context
- 这个餐厅的服务非常糟糕，我们等了一个小时才上菜。The service at this restaurant is very bad. We waited for an hour before the dishes were served.
- 这部电影的质量极差，剧情乏味，演技也不行。The quality of this movie is extremely poor. The plot is dull, and the acting is not good either.
- 今天的天气实在太糟糕了，下了一整天的雨。Today's weather is really terrible. It has been raining all day long.
- 这家餐厅的服务很差。Zhè jiā cāntīng de fúwù hěn chà.The service at this restaurant is very bad.
- 他的英语水平很差。Tā de Yīngyǔ shuǐpíng hěn chà.His English level is very bad.
- 这部电影的质量很差。Zhè bù diànyǐng de zhìliàng hěn chà.The quality of this movie is very bad.
Example conversation
Junjie and Jiayi are discussing a recent hotel stay.
- 俊杰 Junjie那家酒店怎么样？Nà jiā jiǔdiàn zěnmeyàng?How was that hotel?
- 佳怡 Jiayi那里的卫生条件很差。Nàlǐ de wèishēng tiáojiàn hěn chà.The sanitary conditions there were very bad.
- 俊杰 Junjie真的吗？那太糟糕了。Zhēn de ma? Nà tài zāogāo le.Really? That's terrible.
- 佳怡 Jiayi是的，我以后不去那里了。Shì de, wǒ yǐhòu bù qù nàlǐ le.Yes, I won't go there again.
