The 太……了 pattern

In Chinese, 太……了 (tài… le) states with feeling that a quality or situation is at a very high degree.

In English it is usually rendered as “so …!”, “too …!”, “how … it is!”.

Basic structure

太 + adjective / state + 了

Meaning: so …! / too …!

太(Tài)冷(lěng)了(le)！

It's so cold!

太 + 冷 + 了 too + cold + emphasis

太(tài)too / so

冷(lěng)cold

了(le)gives the state its force

这(Zhè)个(ge)杯(bēi)子(zi)太(tài)小(xiǎo)了(le)。

This cup is too small.

这个杯子 + 太 + 小 + 了 this cup + too + small + 了

这(zhè)个(ge)杯(bēi)子(zi)this cup

太(tài)too

小(xiǎo)small

了(le)marks the degree

我(Wǒ)们(men)今(jīn)天(tiān)太(tài)高(gāo)兴(xìng)了(le)！

We are so happy today!

我们 + 今天 + 太 + 高兴 + 了 we + today + so + happy + 了

我(wǒ)们(men)we

今(jīn)天(tiān)today

太(tài)so

高(gāo)兴(xìng)happy

了(le)the emotional force

太 + adjective / state + 了

Meaning: it marks a quality or state as being at a very high degree.

Examples:

太(Tài)冷(lěng)了(le)！

It's so cold!

太(Tài)小(xiǎo)了(le)。

Too small.

太(Tài)高(gāo)兴(xìng)了(le)！

So happy!