Using 很 (hěn) to intensify verbs that express thoughts or feeling is
really easy.
Structure
Subj. + 很 + [Certain Verbs]
Certain "
psychological verbs" related
to feelings or emotional sates can be modified with 很 (hěn) to increase
their intensity. This is similar to using "really" or "very much" in
English. Remember that this only applies to psychological verbs, such
as:
- 想 (xiǎng) to think; to want; to miss
- 喜欢 (xǐhuan) to like
- 小心 (xiǎoxīn) to be careful
- 怕 (pà) to fear; to be afraid of
- 了解 (liǎojiě) to know a lot about
- 讨厌 (tǎoyàn) to hate
- 担心 (dānxīn) to worry about
- 希望 (xīwàng) to hope
Examples
- 我 很 想 你。Wǒ
hěn xiǎng nǐ.I
really miss you.
- 他 很 喜欢 你。Tā
hěn xǐhuan
nǐ.He really likes you.
- 你应该很 小心 。Nǐ
yīnggāi hěn
xiǎoxīn.You should be
very careful.
- 我 很 怕 晚上 一个人
在家。Wǒ hěn pà
wǎnshang yīgèrén zài jiā.I fear staying
home alone at night.
- 你 应该 很 了解 自己 的
孩子。Nǐ yīnggāi hěn
liǎojiě zìjǐ de
háizi.You should know a lot about your
child.
- 外国 人 很 讨厌 中国 的 公共
厕所。Wàiguó rén hěn
tǎoyàn Zhōngguó de gōnggòng
cèsuǒ.Foreigners really hate public
toilets in China.
- 你 两天 没 回家,妈妈 很 担心
你。Nǐ liǎng tiān méi huíjiā, māma hěn
dānxīn nǐ.You haven't
gone home in two days. Mom is really worried about you.
- 父母 都 很 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.
Did you ever notice that some Chinese people with less-than-perfect
English will use the phrase "very like?" Now you know why!
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
Category:A2 grammar points