Special verbs with "hen"

Using 很 (hěn) to intensify verbs that express thoughts or feeling is really easy.

Structure

Subj. + 很 + [Certain Verbs] + [General Verbs/Nouns]

Certain verbs in Chinese can be modified with 很 (hěn) to increase their intensity. This similar to using "really" or "very much" in English. This can only be done with psychological verbs, such as:

  • 想 (xiǎng) to think; to want; to miss
  • 喜欢 (xǐhuan) to like
  • 小心 (xiǎoxīn) to be careful
  • 生气 (shēngqì) to be angry
  • 怕 (pà) to fear; to be afraid of
  • 了解 (liǎojiě) to know a lot about
  • 希望 (xīwàng) to hope
  • 讨厌 (tǎoyàn) to hate
  • 担心 (dānxīn) to worry about

Examples

  • 你。hěn xiǎng nǐ. I really miss you.
  • 喜欢 你。hěn xǐhuan nǐ. He really likes you.
  • 我妹妹 喜欢 说话。Wǒ mèimei hěn xǐhuan shuōhuà. My younger sister really likes to talk.
  • 我 的 英语 老师 了解 中国。Wǒ de Yīngyǔ lǎoshī hěn liǎojiě Zhōngguó. My English teacher knows a lot about China.
  • 父母 都 希望 我 能 上 一 个 好 大学。Fùmǔ dōu hěn xīwàng wǒ néng shàng yī gè hǎo dàxué. Both of my parents really hope that I can go to a good college.
  • 老外 讨厌 中国 的 公共厕所。Lǎowài hěn tǎoyàn Zhōngguó de gōnggòng cèsuǒ. Foreigners really hate public toilets in China.
  • 晚上 一 个 人 在家。Yéye de gǒu sǐ le, tā hěn shāngxīn. Grandpa's dog died.He is very sad.
  • 你 两天 没 回家,妈妈 担心 担心 你。Tā méi lái, tā hěn shīwàng. You haven't gone home for two days. Mom really worries about you.
  • 公交车 上 有 小偷,小心 你的钱包。Gōngjiāochē shàng yǒu xiǎotōu, xiǎoxīn nǐ de qiánbāo. There are thieves on the bus.Be careful with your wallet.
  • 他 回 美国 了,可是 他 一直 他的 中国朋友。Tā huí měiguó le, kěshì tā yīzhí hěn xiǎngniàn tā de Zhōngguó péngyou. He went back to America, but he misses his Chinese friends all the time.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books