Why 'hen' is neccessary here?

I've thought it's used before one-syllable words. :-?

I was not aware of such a rule. You'll have to show me where you got it from.

OK. Please wait, I have to find where I've read this.

It's not a rule anyway. I just think 'hen' is translated 'very' before 2-syllable words.

I'm not so sure...

http://lvlingyun.com/?p=200

I'm not sure either, but it seems I've read it here:

Schaum's Outline of Chinese Grammar (pirated at http://uztranslations.net.ru/?c...hinese_Grammar ;)))

Page 54 (35 in scanned PDF):
Intensifiers:
[long list skipped]
很 hěn very
[long list skipped]

*A Note on Stative Verbs, Syllable Length and Intensifiers*
If the stative verb is one syllable in length, it must be preceded by a modifier. In negated sentences, the modifier is 不 bù. In affirmative sentences, the default modifier is intensifier 很 hěn. Without 很 hěn, the sentence is grammatical but not natural sounding.

你的弟弟很高. [nǐ de dìdi hěn gāo] Your brother is (very) tall.
[unnatural] 你的弟弟高. [nǐ de dìdi hěn gāo] Your brother is tall.
你的弟弟不高. [nǐ de dìdi bù gāo] Your brother is not tall.

Yep, I dunno... It's been 3 years since I formally learned this in a class. But for me, 很 has always taken the role of "is" in "A is B" sentences, regardless whether or not B was monosyllabic.

Maybe sysko, fucongcong, or others could comment.

I agree with FeuDRenais. 很 functions the same way no matter how many syllables the following word has. Therefore 我们的菜饭很便宜 sounds natural, and 我们的菜饭便宜 does not. (But shouldn't it be 饭菜 instead of 菜饭? I think 菜饭 is something like "rice with vegetables.)

Your brother is very tall = 你的弟弟非常高
Your brother is tall = 你的弟弟很高
很 is often used before an adjectif, it has no meaning

By the way, there is a mistake in this chinese sentence because 菜饭 is something that we call rice with vegetables : http://www.gog.com.cn/pic/0/10/...081_923904.jpg
It this case, it will be more suitable to use 饭菜 to express the meaning of food

Yep, it should have been 饭菜. I mixed up the order.

@nickyeow
@fucongcong
Thank you!

You're welcome :)

with pleasure