狠

hěn

HSK 3.0 Level 6 Adjective

Definitions

1. (dialect) very; quite
2. firmly; resolutely
3. ruthless; cruel

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Character focus

Stroke order

9 strokes

Word relationships

Related words

1 item

凶

xiōng

terrible

Related to cruelty or fierceness

Synonyms

3 items

非常

fēi cháng

very; really

As an adverb meaning 'very', but 狠 is dialectal and less common than 非常

坚决

jiān jué

firm; resolute; determined

As an adverb meaning 'firmly, resolutely'

残忍

cán rěn

cruel

As an adjective meaning 'ruthless, cruel'

Usage notes

Common mistakes

Don't confuse 狠 (ruthless) with 很 (very); they have different radicals and tones, but look similar.

Formality

Using 狠 as an adverb meaning 'very' is mainly dialectal (e.g., northeastern China) and informal.

Example Sentences

1 shown

他对敌人很狠。

He is very ruthless towards his enemies.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 狠

cruel

callous; heartless

to resolve (to do sth); to toughen up

心狠手辣

xīn hěn shǒu là

vicious and merciless (idiom)

fierce and vicious

very fierce

to exert all one's force

狠命

hěn mìng

exerting all one's strength

very fierce

vicious

resolutely

ruthless

you got me!

狠