Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
狠hěn(hen3)
The character 狠 (hěn) primarily means 'fierce' or 'vicious,' often describing someone or something that is harsh or cruel. It can also be used as an adverb meaning 'very' to intensify an adjective, especially in informal contexts. This dual usage makes it quite versatile in everyday conversation.
Strokes9Radical犭Frequency#3807DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, being described as 狠 can imply a strong, assertive character, often seen as admirable in competitive contexts like business. It reflects a cultural acceptance of toughness in certain situations, particularly in negotiations.
Memory Tip
Imagine a fierce tiger (representing the meaning of 狠) with sharp claws, ready to pounce. The '亻' radical (a person) suggests it refers to someone's fierce nature, while the '狠' character itself sounds like 'hen' which rhymes with 'henchman'—a tough, fierce person.
Meanings of 狠
hěn(hen3)
1fierce
2very
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 狠 means.
About 狠
狠Simplified
9Strokes
犭Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#3807Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 狠
Podcast: 狠
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 狠
Quick Contrast
狠 (hěn) vs 严 (yán) — use 狠 for a fiercer, more ruthless connotation, while 严 conveys strictness or severity without the same harshness.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 狠 with similar-sounding words like 很 (hěn), which means 'very' but is used in a more neutral context. It is more commonly used in informal speech, so avoid using it in formal writing. Common collocations include 狠心 (hěn xīn, to be ruthless) and 狠话 (hěn huà, harsh words).
HSK Study Tips
Although 狠 is not specifically listed in HSK levels, it is beneficial for learners at HSK 3 and above who are expanding their vocabulary on descriptive words. Focus on using it in sentences to understand its intensity and emotional weight.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 狠 when they mean 很, such as saying 狠好 (hěn hǎo) instead of 很好 (hěn hǎo, very good). Remember that 狠 has a more intense, negative connotation.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 狠
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 狠 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 狠 through them.
Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
How Well Do You Know 狠?
Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 狠 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
狠 = 犭 + 艮. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 狠
IDS Structure⿰犭艮
狠Full Character
=
犭quan3
left
艮gen3
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 狠?
How to say fierce in Chinese
“fierce” in Chinese is狠hěn
The character 狠 (hěn) primarily means 'fierce' or 'vicious,' often describing someone or something that is harsh or cruel. It can also be used as an adverb meaning 'very' to intensify an adjective, especially in informal contexts. This dual usage makes it quite versatile in everyday conversation.
When to use 狠
Be careful not to confuse 狠 with similar-sounding words like 很 (hěn), which means 'very' but is used in a more neutral context. It is more commonly used in informal speech, so avoid using it in formal writing. Common collocations include 狠心 (hěn xīn, to be ruthless) and 狠话 (hěn huà, harsh words).
狠 or something close to it
狠 (hěn) vs 严 (yán) — use 狠 for a fiercer, more ruthless connotation, while 严 conveys strictness or severity without the same harshness.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 狠 when they mean 很, such as saying 狠好 (hěn hǎo) instead of 很好 (hěn hǎo, very good). Remember that 狠 has a more intense, negative connotation.
Write 狠
狠
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 狠 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Grammar Patterns of 狠
狠 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我因为没给他打电话，被____狠训斥了一顿。
I got a severe telling off for not phoning him.
Example Sentences for 狠 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
我因为没给他打电话，被狠狠训斥了一顿。
wǒ yīn wéi méi gěi tā dǎ diàn huà， ， bèi hěn hěn xùn chì le yī。
I got a severe telling off for not phoning him.
2
迈克尔狠狠地瞪了他一眼然后走开了。
mài kè ěr hěn hěn dì dèng le tā yī yǎn rán hòu zǒu kāi le。
Michael gave him a dirty look and walked out.
3
有一次，她用煎锅狠狠地砸了我的头。
yǒu yī cì， ， tā yòng jiān guō hěn hěn dì zá le wǒ de。
Once, she walloped me over the head with a frying pan.
4
他在政治上的好勇斗狠是出了名的。
tā zài zhèng zhì shàng de hǎo yǒng dǒu hěn shì chū le míng de。
He has a reputation as a political bruiser.
5
迈克尔狠狠瞪了那只狗一眼。
mài kè ěr hěn hěn dèng le nà zhī gǒu yī yǎn。
Michael gave the dog a stern look.
6
那狠狠的一巴掌差点搧在他脸上。
nà hěn hěn de yī bā zhǎng chà diǎn shān zài tā liǎn shàng。
