Chinese Word
Archive
← Today's word Archive
adverb / adjective HSK 5
shèn
very · extremely · what · excessive

Meaning

甚 is a literary or formal adverb meaning 'very' or 'extremely,' used to intensify adjectives or verbs. It can also function as an interrogative pronoun meaning 'what' in classical Chinese. In modern Mandarin, it appears mainly in written or formal contexts and in fixed expressions.

Usage

In everyday speech, native speakers prefer 很 (hěn) or 非常 (fēicháng) over 甚. However, 甚 remains common in formal writing, literature, and fixed phrases like 甚至 (shènzhì, 'even') and 甚么 (shénme, 'what' in some dialects). When used alone as 'very,' it sounds classical or literary.

Examples

  1. 01
    这件事甚为重要。
    Zhè jiàn shì shènwéi zhòngyào.
    This matter is extremely important.
  2. 02
    他不仅会说英语，甚至还会说法语。
    Tā bùjǐn huì shuō Yīngyǔ, shènzhì hái huì shuō Fǎyǔ.
    He not only speaks English, but even speaks French.

Common collocations

  • 甚至
    shènzhì
    even
  • 甚好
    shèn hǎo
    very good (formal)
  • 甚为
    shènwéi
    very, extremely (formal)
  • 甚么
    shénme
    what (dialectal/classical)

Origin

Originally a pictophonetic character combining semantic and phonetic elements. In classical Chinese, it served both as an intensifier and an interrogative, meanings that partially survive in modern usage.

Related