▎很, hĕn, (Adv), Intensification Marker

 

Function The adverb 很 intensifies state verbs (Vs).

1 我很好。

Wǒ hěn hǎo.

I am fine.

2 他很喜歡臺灣。

Tā hěn xǐhuān Táiwān.

He likes Taiwan.

3 臺灣人很喜歡喝烏龍茶。

Táiwān rén hěn xǐhuān hē Wūlóng chá.

Taiwanese people like to drink Oolong tea.

 

Structures The adverb 很hěn is placed before state verbs (Vs) as follows: Subject ＋很hěn＋State Verb.

1 烏龍茶很好喝。

Wūlóng chá hěn hǎohē.

Oolong tea tastes good.

2 他很喜歡日本人。

Tā hěn xǐhuān Rìběn rén.

He likes Japanese people.

3 我們很好。

Wǒmen hěn hǎo.

We are fine.

 

Usage In general, adjectival state verbs as predicates must be preceded by either 不 or intensifiers. When no particular intensity is intended, they are preceded by a weak 很. When 很 is intended to actually mean ‘very’, it is typically stressed in speech and is frequently replaceable by 好hǎo ‘very’. Lastly, note that the structure, ‘The cat is pretty’ is expressed as ‘The cat 很 pretty’.