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HSK 1

很

very

adverbneutral
很
hěn3rd tone

HSK level

1
2
3
4
5
6
Pinyin
hěn
Part of speech
adverb
Level
HSK 1
Strokes
9
Register
neutral

Stroke order for 很

很 is written with 9 strokes. The animation replays automatically.

What does 很 mean?

很 (hěn) is the most common Chinese intensifier, usually translated as 'very,' but its real job is grammatical, not emphatic.

In Chinese, an adjective on its own often implies a comparison (我累 'I'm tired (in contrast to others)'), so native speakers add 很 to make the sentence sound complete and neutral: 我很累 simply means 'I'm tired,' not necessarily 'I'm VERY tired.' This is why textbooks teach 很 as a near-mandatory partner for predicate adjectives. When 很 is stressed in speech, it does function as 'very' — but the unstressed default is closer to 'is.'

For real emphasis Chinese uses 非常, 特别, 真, or 太. 很 is one of the first 50 characters every learner meets.

Example sentences

我很好。

Wǒ hěn hǎo.

I'm fine.

neutral

她很漂亮。

Tā hěn piàoliang.

She is pretty.

neutral

今天很冷。

Jīntiān hěn lěng.

It's cold today.

spoken

我有很多朋友。

Wǒ yǒu hěn duō péngyou.

I have a lot of friends.

neutral

Common phrases with 很

很好hěn hǎovery good / fine
很多hěn duōa lot; many
很少hěn shǎovery few; rarely
很高兴hěn gāoxìngvery glad / pleased
很喜欢hěn xǐhuanreally like

Synonyms

非常fēicháng

非常 is stronger — actually 'very / extremely.' Use it when you mean it. 很 is the default, often unstressed; 非常 carries real emphasis.

太tài

太 means 'too / overly' and usually pairs with 了 (太好了 'great!'). Stronger and more emotional than 很.

真zhēn

真 ('really') sounds more sincere or surprised: 真好吃 'really tasty!' 很 is calmer and more neutral.

Don't confuse 很 with

狠hěn

狠 (with the 'dog' radical 犭) means 'ruthless / fierce,' as in 狠心 'hard-hearted.' Same pinyin and tone, but a totally different character and meaning.

也yě

也 means 'also.' Beginners sometimes try 我也累 vs 我很累 — both are valid but different: 也 means 'also tired,' 很 just makes the sentence grammatically complete.

FAQ

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