Expressing "really" with "zhēn" "真"
As an adverb, the word 真 (zhēn) means "really" or "truly."
真 (zhēn) Before an Adjective
Structure
真 (zhēn) is used only in exclamatory sentences and comes before an adjective.
Example
- 你 真 好！
Nǐ zhēn hǎo!
You are so nice!
- 你 女朋友 真 漂亮！
Nǐ nǚpéngyou zhēn piàoliang!
Your girlfriend is really pretty!
- 他 家 真 有钱！
Tā jiā zhēn yǒuqián!
His family is really rich!
- 小狗 真 可爱！
Xiǎogǒu zhēn kě'ài!
This puppy is really cute!
- 今天 真 热！
Jīntiān zhēn rè!
It's truly hot today!
真 (zhēn) Before Certain Verbs or 能 (néng) / 会 (huì)
We don't want to get too technical on you, but there are certain other words that can be jazzed up with 真 (zhēn). One type of word is auxiliary verbs, like 能 (néng) and 会 (huì). The other type is psychological verbs like 喜欢 (xǐhuan).
Structure
Example
- 你 妈妈 真 爱 你！
Nǐ māma zhēn ài nǐ!
Your mother really loves you!
- 我 真 喜欢 住 在 中国！
Wǒ zhēn xǐhuan zhù zài Zhōngguó!
I really like living in China!
- 我 真 讨厌 这 种 男人！
Wǒ zhēn tǎoyàn zhè zhǒng nánrén!
I really hate this kind of guy!
- 你 真 会 说话！
Nǐ zhēn huì shuōhuà!
You are so good with words!
- 你 真 能 吃！
Nǐ zhēn néng chī!
You ate so much!