太/很
tài / hěn
很 is not very — it is a stand that props the adjective up
The picture A gauge with a needle. 很 is only the stand that lets the needle rest somewhere on the dial; 太 is the needle shooting past the red line and taking your feelings with it.
Where the picture shows up in 太/很
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just resting on the dial
今天很热。
jīntiān hěn rè
It's hot today.
Say 今天热 without 很 and it sounds like a comparison — hot today, unlike other days. 很 is the prop that stops that.
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past the red line
今天太热了，别出去了。
jīntiān tài rè le, bié chūqu le
It's way too hot today — don't go out.
太 almost always ends with 了.
-
the prop under an adjective
这家店的菜很好吃。
zhè jiā diàn de cài hěn hǎochī
The food at this place is good.
-
overflowing in the good direction
太好了，我们六点见！
tài hǎo le, wǒmen liù diǎn jiàn
That's great — see you at six!
太好了 is not excessively good; it is an exclamation.
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not reaching the line
我不太喜欢这个颜色。
wǒ bú tài xǐhuan zhège yánsè
I'm not really keen on this colour.
不太 is not very much not; it is a soft not really.