值得 (zhíde) means "to be worth" doing something, and is often placed before a verb or a verb phrase. Note that it is used to describe whether an action is worth it and cannot be used to state that something is worth a certain monetary value. For that 值 must be used on its own.
值得 as an adverb
Basic Structure
值得 + Verb/[Verb phrase]
Examples
Léifēnɡ zhùrénwéilè de jīnɡshen zhídé wǒmen xuéxí.
雷锋 助人为乐 的 精神 值得 我们 学习。
雷锋 助人为乐 的 精神 值得 我们 学习。
The spirit of altruism merits some study.
Bājīn de sǎnwén hěn zhídé yíkàn.
巴金 的 散文 很 值得 一看。
巴金 的 散文 很 值得 一看。
Ba Jin's prose deserves a look.
Zhè jiàn xiǎoshì bú zhídé nǐ dānxīn.
这 件 小事 不 值得 你 担心。
这 件 小事 不 值得 你 担心。
This little thing isn't worth your time.
值得 as an adjective
值得 can also be used as an adjective - on its own, or following a verb phrase.
Structure
([Verb phrase]) + 值得
Examples
Zhídémɑ? zhídé.
值得吗？ 值得。
值得吗？ 值得。
Is it worth it? Yes. It's worth it.
Shànɡdàxué(hěn)zhídé.
上大学(很)值得。
上大学(很)值得。
Attending college is worth it.
Xuéhànyǔshìzhídéde.
学汉语是值得的。
学汉语是值得的。
Studying Chinese is really worth it.
When expressing that something is not worth doing one can say something is either 不值得 or 值不得.
