很 hěn — very; extremely
这道菜很好吃。Zhè dào cài hěn hǎo chī.This dish is very delicious.
Common words: 很是 (hěn shì)、不很 (bù hěn)、得很 (de hěn)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "extremely"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "extremely", including 很 (hěn), 太 (tài), 极 (jí), 甚 (shèn). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "extremely" covers 4 different Chinese characters — 很 (hěn), 太 (tài), 极 (jí), 甚 (shèn) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 4 characters do not share a sound — their readings span hěn, tài, jí, shèn — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 很 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 很 hěnvery; extremelyUseful words: 很是, 不很
- 太 tàihighest; greatest; too (much); very; extremelyUseful words: 太阳, 太太
- 极 jíextremely; pole (geography; physics); utmost; topUseful words: 极了, 积极
- 甚 shènvery; extremely; more (than)Useful words: 甚至, 甚至于
Common words for these 4 "extremely" characters
Anchor each of these 4 characters in a word you can picture — start with 很 (hěn) — so "extremely" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
很是hěn shì(formal) very; quite; deeply (usu. followed by a two-syllable adjective or verb)不很bù hěnnot very得很de hěn(after an adjective) very太阳tài yangsun; sunlight; sunshine; temple (on the side of the human head)太太tài taimarried woman; Mrs.; Madam; wife老太太lǎo tài taielderly lady (respectful); esteemed mother极了jí leextremely; exceedingly积极jī jíactive; energetic; vigorous; positive (outlook)积极性jī jí xìngzeal; initiative; enthusiasm; activity甚至shèn zhìeven; so much so that
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 4 ways to say "extremely".
太 tài — highest; greatest; too (much); very; extremely
这件衣服太大了。Zhè jiàn yī fu tài dà le.This piece of clothing is too big.
Common words: 太阳 (tài yang)、太太 (tài tai)、老太太 (lǎo tài tai)
极 jí — extremely; pole (geography; physics); utmost; top
今天的风景美极了。Jīn tiān de fēng jǐng měi jí le.The scenery today is extremely beautiful.
Common words: 极了 (jí le)、积极 (jī jí)、积极性 (jī jí xìng)
甚 shèn — very; extremely; more (than)
他对历史甚至比老师还了解。Tā duì lì shǐ shèn zhì bǐ lǎo shī hái liǎo jiě.He understands history even better than the teacher.
Common words: 甚至 (shèn zhì)、甚至于 (shèn zhì yú)、甚是 (shèn shì)
All 4 characters
Open 很、太、极 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.