Blogs > Mandarin Learning Tips
by Tracy LaoShi, 21 Oct 2023
你很美 (nǐ hěn měi). Translated as "very beautiful," right?
Well, not so fast! Mandarin is known for its quirks and nuances, and 很 hěn is a prime example of that.
The truth about 很(hěn) is that it's not quite the same as "very" in English.
In Mandarin, 很(hěn) does translate to "very," but there's a catch. It's often used as a filler word, and its meaning isn't as intense as "very" implies.
Think of it as a friendly cushion that softens your statement. When you say 你很美(nǐ hěn měi), it's more like saying "you are beautiful" rather than "you are very beautiful."
Real meaning of 你很美(nǐ hěn měi)
❌You are very beautiful
✅ You are beautiful
Why the Filler Word?
Mandarin is all about balance and politeness, and this little word helps maintain that balance.
Dropping the 很(hěn) in "你很美(nǐ hěn měi) might sound a bit blunt and awkward in Mandarin culture. So, it's there to keep things polite and harmonious.
非常 (Fēi Cháng): Very/Extremely
When you want to emphasize "very" or "extremely," you can use the word 非常 (fēi cháng). It's like putting your enthusiasm on turbo mode. So, if someone's not just beautiful but drop-dead gorgeous, you can say:
你非常美" (nǐ fēi cháng měi) =You're extremely beautiful.
真的 (zhēn de): Really
Another fantastic word to express "really" in Mandarin is 真的 (zhēn de).
你真的很美 (nǐ zhēn de hěn měi)
= You are really beautiful.
Now that we've dissected the secrets of "很," it's time to put your newfound knowledge into action. Let's see how it all comes together:
When you want to be polite and say someone is beautiful, use "你很美" (nǐ hěn měi).
To emphasize that they're extremely beautiful, go for "你非常美" (nǐ fēi cháng měi).
When you want to keep it real and say they're really beautiful, drop a "你真的很美" (nǐ zhēn de hěn měi).