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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
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About 狠
狠Simplified
9Strokes
犭Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#3807Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L6IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRC1
Podcast: 狠
Podcast: 狠
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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.
Memory Mnemonic
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.
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.
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.
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
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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
Complete the Sentence
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)
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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。
rú guǒ nán hái mén bù xǐ huān nǐ de huà， ， tā mén jiù huì hěn hěn dì zhuō nòng。
The boys would tease you to death if they didn'tfancy you.
9
他拿棍子朝驴背上狠狠打了一下。
tā ná gùn zǐ zhāo lǘ bèi shàng hěn hěn dǎ le yī xià。
He gave the donkey a whack across the back with his stick.
10
如果她发现你还在这儿，她会狠狠地教训我。
rú guǒ tā fā xiàn nǐ huán zài zhè ér， ， tā huì hěn hěn dì jiào xùn。
She'll crucify me if she finds you still here.
Cultural Notes for 狠
🏮Cultural insight
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.
Word Family of 狠
Words Containing This Character10
狠hěnruthless
狠狠resolutely
凶狠xiōnghěncruel
狠心hěnxīncallous
狠毒vicious
恶狠狠very fierce惡狠狠
心狠手辣vicious and merciless (idiom)
狠命exerting all one's strength
恶狠fierce and vicious惡狠
狠巴巴very fierce
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 狠 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 狠
No, 狠 is primarily used in informal contexts and should be avoided in formal writing.
While you can use 狠 to intensify many adjectives, it's most effective with those that describe negative qualities or emotions.
狠 conveys a sense of harshness or intensity, while 很 simply means 'very' and is neutral.
