The Adjective “厉害”
In Chinese, “厉害” (lìhai) follows a verb or an adjective to say that the degree of an action, state or quality is very high.
How it is translated
Depending on the context:
very
badly
terribly
intensely
The two structures
1. With a verb
verb + 得 + (adverb) + 厉害
Meaning:
the action or state happens to a very high degree
2. With an adjective
adjective + 得 + 厉害
Meaning:
the quality holds to a very high degree
我还发烧，一直咳嗽，咳得很厉害
咳 + 得 + 很 + 厉害
cough + degree + very + badly
That is:
咳得很厉害 — cough very badly
发烧 — have a fever
一直 — continuously
咳嗽 — cough
咳得很厉害 — cough very badly
我昨天跑步跑多了，今天腿疼得厉害
疼 + 得 + 厉害
hurt + degree + terribly
That is:
疼得厉害 — hurt terribly
昨天 — yesterday
跑步 — run
跑多了 — ran too much
腿 — leg
疼得厉害 — hurt terribly
这道菜辣得厉害，我吃了一口就不敢再吃了
辣 + 得 + 厉害
spicy + degree + terribly
That is:
辣得厉害 — terribly spicy
这道菜 — this dish
辣 — spicy
辣得厉害 — terribly spicy
吃了一口 — took one bite
不敢再吃了 — didn’t dare eat any more
Rule in brief
“厉害” follows a verb or an adjective and marks a very high degree.
With a verb:
verb + 得 + (adverb) + 厉害
咳得很厉害
疼得厉害
With an adjective:
adjective + 得 + 厉害
辣得厉害