很累 (hěnlèi) means 'very tired' and is commonly used to express exhaustion from physical or mental activities. It can be used in both informal conversations and more formal contexts to convey one's state of fatigue.
HSK 2, 16 strokes, Hard
hěnlèi(hen3lei4) T3
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May 27, 2026
很累hěnlèi(hen3lei4)
很累 (hěnlèi) means 'very tired' and is commonly used to express exhaustion from physical or mental activities. It can be used in both informal conversations and more formal contexts to convey one's state of fatigue.
Strokes16Frequency#—DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressing tiredness can indicate a strong work ethic, as many people pride themselves on hard work. Saying '我很累' can invite sympathy and understanding from friends or colleagues.
Memory Tip
Imagine a hen (很, hěn) that has been working hard all day long, laying eggs and running around. By the end of the day, the hen is very (很) tired (累, lèi) and needs to rest. This visual helps connect the pronunciation and meaning together.
About 很累
很累Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L2ElementaryHSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 很累
Podcast: 很累
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AI Study Notes for 很累
Quick Contrast
很疲惫 (hěn píbèi) - use 很累 (hěnlèi) for a more casual tone compared to the more formal 很疲惫 (hěn píbèi).
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a hen (很, hěn) that has been working hard all day long, laying eggs and running around. By the end of the day, the hen is very (很) tired (累, lèi) and needs to rest. This visual helps connect the pronunciation and meaning together.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 很累 with just 累 (lèi), which means 'tired' without the 'very' emphasis. It's commonly used in everyday conversation, but might be less formal than saying '我很疲惫' (I am very fatigued).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 2 vocabulary word, students should practice using 很累 in various contexts, such as discussing daily activities or feelings. It connects to other emotions like 高兴 (happy) and 生气 (angry), enriching their emotional vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressing tiredness can indicate a strong work ethic, as many people pride themselves on hard work. Saying '我很累' can invite sympathy and understanding from friends or colleagues.
Common Mistakes
Learners often forget to use the 很 (hěn) when they want to emphasize tiredness, saying just '累' instead. To express 'very tired', remember to say '很累'.
AI-enhanced 2026-05-27
Pronunciation of 很累
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Cultural Notes for 很累
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, expressing tiredness can indicate a strong work ethic, as many people pride themselves on hard work. Saying '我很累' can invite sympathy and understanding from friends or colleagues.
Frequently Asked Questions about 很累
Yes, you can say 累 to mean 'tired', but it carries less emphasis than 很累.
Yes, it's common and acceptable to express feeling tired, especially among friends.
Responses could include offering help or suggesting rest, such as '休息一下吧' (Take a break).
