Learn Hardcore Chinese: zhè lóu fùjìn hěn ānjìng. - It is very quiet near this building.

很安静 literally behaves like “(is) very quiet” without needing 是.
The structure is: [subject] + 很 + adjective
- 这楼附近 = the area near this building (subject)
- 很安静 = is very quiet (predicate)

You generally don’t use 是 directly before a descriptive adjective in sentences like this.
✅ 这楼附近很安静。
❌ 这楼附近是安静。 (unnatural)

You only use 是 with adjectives in special structures (contrast, emphasis, or with a following 的, etc.).

Does 很 (hěn) really mean “very” here, or is it sometimes just a grammatical word?

In modern spoken Chinese, 很 in this pattern often serves two roles at once:

Linking word between the subject and an adjective (making the sentence feel complete and natural).
Degree adverb meaning “very / quite” – but often with weaker emphasis than English “very”.

So:

这楼附近很安静。
- Most of the time: natural way to say “it’s quiet around this building”.
- It may or may not feel strongly like “very”; context and intonation decide.

If you truly want strong emphasis, you can also use:

非常安静 – extremely quiet
特别安静 – especially quiet

But as a learner, it’s safe to remember:

You almost always put 很 before an adjective in simple descriptive sentences.

Can I say 这楼附近是很安静? Is that wrong?

这楼附近是很安静 is grammatically possible, but it has a different tone and is less neutral.

这楼附近很安静。
- Plain description: “It’s (very) quiet near this building.”
这楼附近是很安静。
- Sounds like you are confirming, emphasizing, or contrasting:
  - e.g. “It is quiet around this building, but...”
  - 这楼附近是很安静，可是房租太贵。
    - It is indeed very quiet around this building, but the rent is too high.

For a simple, standalone statement, omit 是 and say:
✅ 这楼附近很安静。

What exactly does 附近 (fùjìn) mean, and how is it used in this sentence?

附近 means “nearby / in the vicinity / nearby area”.

In this sentence:

这楼附近
- Literally: “the nearby area of this building”
- Natural translation: “near this building / around this building”

Patterns with 附近:

Noun + 附近
- 这儿附近 = near here
- 学校附近 = near the school
- 这楼附近 = near this building
附近 + noun (less common, more like “nearby [noun]”)
- 附近的人 = people nearby
- 附近的商店 = nearby shops
附近 as a location on its own:
- 我住在附近。= I live nearby.
- 这儿附近很安静。= It’s very quiet around here.

In your sentence, 这楼附近 functions as a location/topic.

Do I need 在 (zài) before 这楼附近? For example, should it be 在这楼附近很安静?

You don’t need 在 here, and 这楼附近很安静 is perfectly natural.

Two patterns are possible:

No 在 (topic / subject style)
- 这楼附近很安静。
- “[As for] the area near this building, (it) is very quiet.”
- Common, especially in written or neutral speech.
With 在 + place (explicit location phrase)
- 在这楼附近很安静。
- Literally: “At this building’s vicinity, (it) is very quiet.”

Native speakers mostly say:

这楼附近很安静。 or
这儿很安静。 (It’s quiet here.)

在 is required if the sentence structure needs an explicit location-marking verb phrase, e.g.:

我在这楼附近工作。= I work near this building.

But with a simple descriptive sentence like yours, either is okay, and without 在 is more common.

Is 这楼 natural, or should I say 这栋楼 / 这座楼 / 这个楼 instead?

All are seen, but their naturalness and usage vary:

这栋楼 (zhè dòng lóu)
- Very common and natural for buildings, especially residential or office buildings.
- Recommended standard choice.
这座楼 (zhè zuò lóu)
- Also correct; 座 tends to sound a bit more formal or used for larger, notable buildings.
这楼 (zhè lóu)
- Colloquial; native speakers often drop the measure word in casual speech when context is clear.
- Sounds natural in conversation, but in careful writing you’d usually include the measure word.
这个楼 (zhège lóu)
- Heard in some regions/accents (e.g., northern speech),
- But many teachers/textbooks will say it’s less standard than 这栋楼 or 这座楼.

For learners, the safest options are:
✅ 这栋楼附近很安静。
✅ 这座楼附近很安静。

What is the basic grammatical structure of 这楼附近很安静?

Breakdown:

这楼附近 – noun phrase / location phrase
- 这 = this
- 楼 = building
- 附近 = nearby area
  → Together: “the area near this building” (functions like the subject or topic)
很安静 – predicate (verb phrase: “is very quiet”)
- 很 = adverb (degree + link)
- 安静 = adjective “quiet; peaceful”

So structurally, it’s:

[Location / Topic] + 很 + Adjective
[这楼附近] + 很安静。
= Regarding the area near this building, (it) is very quiet.

Can I drop 很 and just say 这楼附近安静?

Normally, you should not drop 很 in this kind of neutral descriptive sentence.

这楼附近很安静。
- Natural, neutral description.
这楼附近安静。
- Feels abrupt, and in many contexts sounds incomplete or strongly contrastive, as if you’re listing qualities:
  - 这楼附近安静，交通也方便。
    - “The area near this building is quiet, and the transportation is convenient too.”

In everyday spoken Chinese, when you simply describe something with an adjective, you almost always insert some degree word:

很 / 非常 / 特别 / 挺 / 真, etc.

So as a default pattern, remember:

Subject / topic + 很 + adjective for simple statements.

What’s the difference between 安静 and 安静的, and why is it just 安静 here?

安静 can be:

Adjective / stative verb (predicate):
- 这楼附近很安静。
  - “It’s very quiet around this building.”
Attributive adjective before a noun, where you usually add 的:
- 安静的地方 = a quiet place
- 安静的环境 = a quiet environment

In your sentence, 安静 is used as the predicate (verb-like adjective), so no 的 is needed.

Compare:

这楼附近很安静。
- The area near this building is quiet.
这楼附近是个很安静的地方。
- The area near this building is a very quiet place.
- Here, 安静的 modifies 地方, so 的 is required.

How would I say “It is very quiet near this building at night” using this pattern?

You can add a time phrase before the location or before the verb phrase:

晚上这楼附近很安静。
- At night, it’s very quiet near this building.
这楼附近晚上很安静。
- Near this building, at night it’s very quiet.

Both are natural.
Common time words you can use:

晚上 / 夜里 / 夜间 – at night

So for your idea:
✅ 晚上这栋楼附近很安静。
or
✅ 这栋楼附近晚上很安静。

What’s the difference between 这楼附近很安静 and 这儿很安静?

Both talk about a place being quiet, but the scope and precision differ:

这楼附近很安静。
- Specifically: “The area near this building is quiet.”
- Focuses on the neighborhood/area around this particular building.
这儿很安静。
- “It’s quiet here.”
- Vague: “here” could be a room, a corner, the general surroundings, depending on where you are.

Use 这楼附近 when you want to specify this building’s surrounding area.
Use 这儿 when you just mean “the place where I am right now” without specifying a building.

What’s the difference between 楼 (lóu) and 房子 (fángzi)? Could I say 这房子附近很安静?

Yes, you can say 这房子附近很安静, but the nuance changes slightly.

楼 (lóu)
- Generally: a building, often multi-story, especially apartments, office buildings, etc.
- e.g. 办公楼 (office building), 这栋楼 (this building)
房子 (fángzi)
- General word for a house / dwelling / home / room(s).
- Can refer to standalone houses, apartments, a place to live.

So:

这楼附近很安静。
- The area around this building (could be multi-story, apartment block, office) is quiet.
这房子附近很安静。
- The area around this house is quiet.
- Works well if you’re talking about a specific house you live in or are visiting.

Both sentences are grammatical; use 楼 if you mean the building itself (e.g. block of flats), 房子 if you mean a house/home.

Are there any pronunciation or tone-sandhi issues in 这楼附近很安静 I should watch out for?

The pinyin with tones is:

这 zhè (4th tone)
楼 lóu (2nd tone)
附近 fùjìn (4th, 4th)
很 hěn (3rd tone)
安静 ānjìng (1st, 4th)

Tone sandhi notes:

The classic 3rd-tone sandhi rule (third tone changes to 2nd tone before another 3rd tone)
doesn’t apply here because 安 is 1st tone, not 3rd.
- So 很安静 is pronounced hěn ān jìng, not hén.

Pronunciation tips:

这 in everyday speech often sounds like zhè (not zhèi here).
Keep 附近 as fù-jìn, both strongly falling tones.
Make sure 安 is high and steady (1st tone), then 静 is sharply falling (4th tone).

So there are no irregular changes; just apply basic tone rules carefully.