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甚 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
甚
shén
what
zg, 9 strokes, radical 甘, rank #6234, Hard
甚
shén
very
zg, 9 strokes, radical 甘, rank #6234, Hard
甚
shén
extremely
zg, 9 strokes, radical 甘, rank #6234, Hard
甚
shén
any
zg, 9 strokes, radical 甘, rank #6234, Hard
甚
shén
considerably; very, extremely; a great extent
zg, 9 strokes, radical 甘, rank #6234, Hard
甚
shèn
what
zg, 9 strokes, radical 甘, rank #6234, Hard
甚
shèn
very
zg, 9 strokes, radical 甘, rank #6234, Hard
甚
shèn
extremely
zg, 9 strokes, radical 甘, rank #6234, Hard
甚
shèn
any
zg, 9 strokes, radical 甘, rank #6234, Hard
甚
shèn
considerably; very, extremely; a great extent
zg, 9 strokes, radical 甘, rank #6234, Hard
shén(shen2)shen
primary
T2
1what
2very
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
甚shén(shen2)
The character 甚 (shén) is primarily used as a variant of 什 (shén), commonly meaning 'what' or 'very/extremely'. It can express a high degree of intensity or extent, often used in questions or to emphasize an extreme quality, such as 'very much' or 'considerably'. It's often found in literary or formal contexts rather than in everyday conversation.
Strokes9Radical甘Frequency#6234DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In classical Chinese literature, 甚 often appears in poetry to convey deep emotions or states of being, reflecting the cultural appreciation for subtlety and intensity in expression.
Memory tip
Imagine a giant 'sh'en' (shen) measuring something very large, like a mountain. The character 甚 has a similar look to 什, and you can think of it as a mountain (the radical) that emphasizes the extreme size of something, helping you remember that it means 'very' or 'extremely'.
Meanings of 甚
shén(shen2)
primary
1what
2very
Exercise 1 of 3
By ear
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About 甚
甚Simplified
9Strokes
甘Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#6234Frequency Rank
Podcast: 甚
Podcast: 甚
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AI study notes for 甚
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 甚 with 什, using them interchangeably without context. While both can mean 'what', 甚 is more about intensity. It's more commonly used in formal speech, so be cautious of the register when using it.
HSK Study Tips
Although 甚 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to other words expressing degree and intensity, such as 非常 (fēicháng) and 太 (tài). Focus on recognizing its use in literary texts and learning phrases that use it for better comprehension.
Common Mistakes
Learners might incorrectly use 甚 in informal contexts where a simpler word like '很' (hěn) would suffice. For example, saying '我甚喜欢这个' (Wǒ shén xǐhuān zhège) instead of '我很喜欢这个' (Wǒ hěn xǐhuān zhège) is a common error.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 甚
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The character 甚 (shén) is primarily used as a variant of 什 (shén), commonly meaning 'what' or 'very/extremely'. It can express a high degree of intensity or extent, often used in questions or to emphasize an extreme quality, such as 'very much' or 'considerably'. It's often found in literary or formal contexts rather than in everyday conversation.
When to use 甚
Learners often confuse 甚 with 什, using them interchangeably without context. While both can mean 'what', 甚 is more about intensity. It's more commonly used in formal speech, so be cautious of the register when using it.
What learners get wrong
Learners might incorrectly use 甚 in informal contexts where a simpler word like '很' (hěn) would suffice. For example, saying '我甚喜欢这个' (Wǒ shén xǐhuān zhège) instead of '我很喜欢这个' (Wǒ hěn xǐhuān zhège) is a common error.
Write 甚
甚
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Practice writing 甚 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 甚
甚 carries 5 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
There may even be some wire or nylon biting into the flesh.
9
心中有羞愧感，有时候甚至无地自容。
xīnzhōng yǒu xiūkuì gǎn， yǒushíhou shènzhì wú dì zì róng。
There is a sense of shame, sometimes carried to extremes.
10
她甚至做了个怪笑。
tā shènzhì zuò le gè guài xiào。
She even managed a grimacing smile of sorts.
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Cultural Notes for 甚
📜Proverb
In Chinese, '甚' can be seen in phrases like '甚么', which means 'what'. This reflects the language's tendency to use compound words for questions, emphasizing clarity in communication.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In English, we often use the word 'very' to emphasize a degree. In Chinese, '甚' serves a similar role but can also be used in questions, highlighting a cultural emphasis on direct communication.
Word Family of 甚
Compounds27
堪kānto endure
勘kānto investigate
湛zhàncalm, clear, deep (as of a lake)
斟zhēnto pour
葚rènmulberry fruit
媅dān
戡kānto subjugate, to subdue, to quell, to kill
揕zhèn
椹shènchopping board
歁kǎn
煁chén
谌chénfaithful, sincere; surname
黮dǎn
偡zhàn
卙jí
啿dàn
夦chěn
尠xiǎn
嵁kān
愖chén
瘎chén
碪zhēn
糂sǎn
蘛yú
諶chénfaithful, sincere; surname
踸chěn
鍖chěn
Words containing this character16
甚至shènzhìeven
甚shénwhat
甚至于shènzhìyúso much (that)甚至於
甚为shènwéivery甚為
更有甚者gèngyǒushènzhěfurthermore (idiom)
甚或shènhuòeven
甚嚣尘上shènxiāochénshàngto raise a tremendous stink甚囂塵上
欺人太甚qīréntàishènto bully intolerably (idiom)
甚而shèn’éreven
幸甚xìngshèn(literary) very fortunate
自视甚高zìshìshèngāoarrogant and self-important自視甚高
不求甚解bùqiúshènjiěsuperficial
甚高频shèngāopínvery high frequency (VHF)甚高頻
逼人太甚bīréntàishènto push sb too far
不为已甚bùwéiyǐshènnot be too hard on subject不為已甚
一之为甚yìzhīwéishènonce is more than enough (idiom)一之為甚
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 甚
What does 堪 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 甚
甚 (shén) and 什么 (shénme) both relate to asking questions, but 甚 is more formal and often used in literary contexts. 什么 is more commonly used in everyday conversation. Understanding this distinction can enhance your comprehension of Chinese language nuances.
甚 (shén) is a Chinese character that can mean 'what', 'very', or 'extremely'. It is a variant of the character 什 (shén), which is often used in questions. In various contexts, it can also indicate a sense of extremity or emphasis.
To use 甚 (shén) in a sentence, you can say '你甚麼時候來?' (Nǐ shénme shíhòu lái?), which means 'When are you coming?'. Additionally, it can be used in phrases like '甚好' (shén hǎo) meaning 'very good'. Understanding its usage will help you form questions and express emphasis.
It generally means 'very' or 'extremely', used to intensify the meaning of an adjective or verb.
It's less common in everyday speech; instead, people might use 非常 (fēicháng) or 太 (tài) for emphasis.
While 什 means 'what', 甚 emphasizes degree, meaning 'very' or 'extremely', so they serve different grammatical purposes.
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