HSK1 Grammar: 很 (hěn) + Adjective
1. Grammar Introduction
In Chinese, when you want to describe something using an adjective, you often use the intensifier “很” (hěn) before the adjective. While “很” literally means “very,” when used with adjectives in simple statements, it functions more like a neutral modifier and doesn’t always emphasize “very” in English.
This pattern is essential in Mandarin Chinese because adjectives typically need a modifier when used as predicates. Without “很” or another intensifier, the sentence would sound incomplete or imply a comparison.
Subject + 很 (hěn) + Adjective
Common Usage Scenarios:
- 今天很热 (jīntiān hěn rè) – Today is hot
- 他很高 (tā hěn gāo) – He is tall
- 这个很好 (zhège hěn hǎo) – This is good
- 我很忙 (wǒ hěn máng) – I am busy
- 书很大 (shū hěn dà) – The book is big
2. Example Sentences
我很好。
我
I
很
very
好
good
I am fine/good.
他很高。
他
he
很
very
高
tall
He is tall.
今天很热。
今天
today
很
very
热
hot
Today is hot.
老师很忙。
老师
teacher
很
very
忙
busy
The teacher is busy.
这个很大。
这个
this
很
very
大
big
This is big.
中文很难。
中文
Chinese
很
very
难
difficult
Chinese is difficult.
她很漂亮。
她
she
很
very
漂亮
beautiful
She is beautiful.
我妈妈很高兴。
我
my
妈妈
mom
很
very
高兴
happy
My mom is happy.
北京很大。
北京
Beijing
很
very
大
big
Beijing is big.
我的朋友很好。
我的
my
朋友
friend
很
very
好
good
My friend is nice.
3. Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Sentence Ordering
Click the words to form correct sentences.
Q1: I am fine.
Q2: He is tall.
Q3: Today is hot.
Q4: The teacher is busy.
Q5: Chinese is difficult.
Exercise 2: English to Chinese Translation
Translate the following sentences into Chinese (use characters).
Q1: This is big.
Q2: She is beautiful.
Q3: My mom is happy.
Q4: Beijing is big.
Exercise 3: Listening Practice
Listen and write what you hear. First 3 questions: Write in Chinese. Last 3 questions: Translate to English.
Q1: Listen and write in Chinese
Q2: Listen and write in Chinese
Q3: Listen and write in Chinese
Q4: Listen and translate to English
Q5: Listen and translate to English
Q6: Listen and translate to English
4. Vocabulary List
Adverb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 很 | hěn | very |
Adjectives
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 好 | hǎo | good, fine | |
| 高 | gāo | tall, high | |
| 热 | rè | hot | |
| 忙 | máng | busy | |
| 大 | dà | big, large | |
| 难 | nán | difficult | |
| 漂亮 | piàoliang | beautiful, pretty | |
| 高兴 | gāoxìng | happy |
Nouns
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 今天 | jīntiān | today | |
| 老师 | lǎoshī | teacher | |
| 中文 | zhōngwén | Chinese (language) | |
| 妈妈 | māma | mom, mother | |
| 北京 | Běijīng | Beijing | |
| 朋友 | péngyou | friend |
Pronouns
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 我 | wǒ | I, me | |
| 他 | tā | he, him | |
| 她 | tā | she, her | |
| 这个 | zhège | this |
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Omitting “很” with adjectives
✗ 我好 (sounds incomplete)
✓ 我很好 (Wǒ hěn hǎo) – I am fine
✗ 我好 (sounds incomplete)
✓ 我很好 (Wǒ hěn hǎo) – I am fine
Mistake 2: Using “是” with adjectives
✗ 他是高 (Tā shì gāo)
✓ 他很高 (Tā hěn gāo) – He is tall
✗ 他是高 (Tā shì gāo)
✓ 他很高 (Tā hěn gāo) – He is tall
Mistake 3: Wrong word order
✗ 很今天热 (Hěn jīntiān rè)
✓ 今天很热 (Jīntiān hěn rè) – Today is hot
✗ 很今天热 (Hěn jīntiān rè)
✓ 今天很热 (Jīntiān hěn rè) – Today is hot
Mistake 4: Forgetting the context
✗ 很好 (Hěn hǎo) – incomplete without subject
✓ 我很好 (Wǒ hěn hǎo) – I am fine
✗ 很好 (Hěn hǎo) – incomplete without subject
✓ 我很好 (Wǒ hěn hǎo) – I am fine
🎉 Great job on completing this lesson!
Practice these sentences daily to master the “很 + Adjective” pattern.
加油！(jiā yóu – Keep going!)
