Definitions
About
The character 很, now serving as a common adverb expressing a high degree, initially carried a meaning centered on disobedience or opposition, which is reflected in its construction combining the radical 彵, often related to behavior or movement, with the component 艮, contributing both phonetic value and a sense of obstinacy or resistance. This etymological foundation gave the character its early usage in classical Chinese to describe someone acting in a contrary or recalcitrant manner. Through extended literary and vernacular application, its semantic force gradually shifted from denoting direct defiance to implying a departure from the norm, which later evolved into a general marker of intensity or extent, ultimately leading to its present grammatical function as a standard intensifier in modern Chinese.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他是一个很好的人。
这本书很有趣。
今天天气很好。
她很高兴见到你。
这个地方很安静。
我很久没有去那里了。
他学习很努力，成绩也很好。
我对这个结果感到很满意。