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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
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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
Memory Mnemonic
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'.
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.
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.
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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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.
They may even have raced each other — but not regularly.
3
这两张唱片还包含了布里顿两首不甚知名的声乐套曲。
zhè liǎng zhāng chàng piàn huán bāo hán le bù lǐ dùn liǎng shǒu bù shèn zhī míng de shēng lè tào qū。
The two discs also contain two of Britten's lesser-known song-cycles.
4
他曾告诉一位采访者，他甚至都不喜欢摇滚乐。
tā zēng gào sù yī wèi cǎi fǎng zhě， ， tā shèn zhì dū bù xǐ huān yáo gǔn。
He once told an interviewer that he didn't even like rock music.
5
我甚至开始巧妙地利用他。
wǒ shèn zhì kāi shǐ qiǎo miào dì lì yòng tā。
I even began to exploit him in subtle ways.
6
他甚至将记录他以前伟绩的录像带通通锁起来了。
tā shèn zhì jiāng jì lù tā yǐ qián wěi jì de lù xiàng dài tōng tōng suǒ qǐ lái le。
He had even locked away all the videos of his previous exploits.
7
我甚至见过她在扎拉淘气的时候使劲摇晃她。
wǒ shèn zhì jiàn guò tā zài zā lā táo qì de shí hòu shǐ jìn yáo huǎng tā。
I've even seen her shake Zara when she's been naughty.
8
甚至可能有一些金属丝或者尼龙线勒到肉里。
shèn zhì kě néng yǒu yī xiē jīn shǔ sī huò zhě ní lóng xiàn lè dào ròu lǐ。
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。
xīn zhōng yǒu xiū kuì gǎn， ， yǒu shí hòu shèn zhì wú dì zì。
There is a sense of shame, sometimes carried to extremes.
10
她甚至做了个怪笑。
tā shèn zhì zuò le gè guài xiào。
She even managed a grimacing smile of sorts.
Cultural Notes for 甚
🏮Cultural insight
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.
📜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kan1to endure
勘kan1to investigate
湛Zhan4calm, clear, deep (as of a lake)
斟zhen1to pour
葚ren4mulberry fruit
媅
戡kan1to subjugate, to subdue, to quell, to kill
揕
椹shen4chopping board
歁
煁
谌Chen2faithful, sincere; surname
黮
偡
卙
啿
夦
尠
嵁
愖
瘎
碪
糂
蘛
諶chen2faithful, sincere; surname
踸
鍖
Words Containing This Character16
甚至shènzhìeven
甚shénwhat
甚至于shènzhìyúso much (that)甚至於
甚为very甚為
更有甚者furthermore (idiom)
甚或even
甚嚣尘上to raise a tremendous stink甚囂塵上
欺人太甚to bully intolerably (idiom)
甚而even
幸甚(literary) very fortunate
自视甚高arrogant and self-important自視甚高
不求甚解superficial
甚高频very high frequency (VHF)甚高頻
逼人太甚to push sb too far
不为已甚not be too hard on subject不為已甚
一之为甚once is more than enough (idiom)一之為甚
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
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.
