Not very: không … lắm

For "not very", put không before the adjective and lắm after it: Nhà em không xa lắm. My place isn't very far. It works with words for feelings too: Em không thích bia lắm. I don't really like beer.

It's also the polite way to say something negative. About food, people often soften dở (bad) to không ngon lắm, not very good, especially to the cook or the seller. Dạo này chị không khỏe lắm is a gentle "I haven't been too well lately."

Rất can't come after không; for "not very", lắm at the end is the usual word. You'll also hear không … mấy with a similar meaning: không xa mấy, not very far. For "not at all", say không … chút nào: Tôi không thích kiểu đó chút nào. I don't like that sort of thing at all.

To ask "Is it very …?", use có … lắm không: Có mắc lắm không? Is it very expensive? (in Hà Nội, đắt). The answer Không mắc lắm means "not very".