Learn a Chinese Character - 很 (Hěn - Very; quite; rather; a lot; Intensifier; degree adverb)

1. Character Basics

Radical: 彳/chì (walk) + 艮/gèn (stop)

Stroke Count: 9 strokes

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Hěn (Third tone)

3. Meaning

Basic Meaning: Very; quite; rather; a lot

Extended Meaning: Intensifier; degree adverb

Additional Notes: Used to modify adjectives and verbs to indicate a high degree or intensity.

4. Common Words

• 很好 (hěn hǎo) - Very good; excellent

  你的中文很好。(Nǐ de zhōngwén hěn hǎo.) - Your Chinese is very good.

• 很大 (hěn dà) - Very big; large

  这个房间很大。(Zhè ge fángjiān hěn dà.) - This room is very big.

• 很高兴 (hěn gāo xìng) - Very happy; glad

  见到你很高兴。(Jiàn dào nǐ hěn gāo xìng.) - Nice to meet you.

• 很重要 (hěn zhòng yào) - Very important

  学习中文很重要。(Xuéxí zhōngwén hěn zhòngyào.) - Learning Chinese is very important.

• 很喜欢 (hěn xǐ huan) - Like very much; love

  我很喜欢中国菜。(Wǒ hěn xǐhuan zhōngguó cài.) - I really like Chinese food.

5. Grammar & Usage

Part of Speech: Adverb

Usage:

• Used to intensify adjectives

  这本书很有趣。(Zhè běn shū hěn yǒuqù.) - This book is very interesting.

• Can also modify certain verbs

  我很想你。(Wǒ hěn xiǎng nǐ.) - I miss you a lot.

• Commonly used in daily conversations to express degree

  今天很冷。(Jīntiān hěn lěng.) - Today is very cold.

Common Structures:

• 很 + 形容词: 很开心 (hěn kāixīn) - Very happy
• 很 + 动词 + 宾语: 很喜欢音乐 (hěn xǐhuan yīnyuè) - Like music very much
• 主语 + 很 + 形容词: 他很高 (Tā hěn gāo) - He is very tall

6. Cultural Background

The character "很" is one of the most frequently used adverbs in Chinese, serving as a fundamental intensifier in everyday communication.

• Linguistic Evolution: Originally meaning "to walk slowly" or "to lag behind," "很" gradually evolved into its modern usage as a degree adverb over time.
• Cultural Significance: The use of "很" reflects the Chinese preference for moderate expression. Unlike some languages that have extreme superlatives, "很" provides a balanced way to indicate a high degree.
• Social Context: In polite conversations, "很" is often used to express positive sentiments without appearing overly enthusiastic or insincere.
• Teaching Importance: As one of the first adverbs taught to Chinese language learners, mastering "很" is crucial for forming basic sentences.

The simplicity and versatility of "很" make it an essential building block in Chinese sentence structure.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

1. Structure Memory: "很" consists of 彳 (walk radical) and 艮 (stop). Imagine walking and then stopping to emphasize something.

2. Frequency Association: Since "很" is one of the most common words in Chinese, try to use it in every practice sentence when describing things.

3. Phrase Practice: Combine "很" with different adjectives you learn (e.g., 很好, 很大, 很开心) to build vocabulary and sentence structure.

4. Stroke Order Practice: Remember the stroke order starts with the left side 彳, then the right side 艮.

5. Contextual Use: Pay attention to how native speakers use "很" in daily conversations and mimic their usage.