急得不知道怎么办
so … that … (得 followed by a whole clause saying what happened as a result)
Structure
形容词／动词 + 得 + 句子
What it means
“So … that …”: after 得, a whole little sentence shows how far a feeling or state went: 急得不知道怎么办 “so worried she didn’t know what to do”.
How it is built
Adjective / verb + 得 + clause, often with 都 or 也 in it: 他累得什么话也不想说 (He was so tired he didn’t want to say a word).
When to use it
Plain 得 + adjective (跑得很快) rates an action; here the clause paints the result, which makes stories vivid: 孩子们高兴得跳了起来 (The children were so happy they jumped for joy).
Watch out
No 很 or 太 before the adjective: ✗ 他很累得不想说话 ✓ 他累得不想说话.
Examples
他累得什么话也不想说。
He was so tired he didn’t want to say a word.
孩子们高兴得跳了起来。
The children were so happy they jumped for joy.
大卫听得都忘了吃月饼。
David was so caught up listening that he forgot to eat his mooncake.
Learn this in HSK 3 · Lesson 22: 嫦娥的传说 (The moon legend)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
Open the lesson →