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狠狠 (hěn hěn) — ruthlessly, fiercely, firmly, resolutely (adverb modifying a verb)

Definition

An adverbial bound form meaning 'fiercely / ruthlessly' that always precedes 地 before a verb to intensify the action. Unlike a plain adverb, it is not used alone.

bound form
ruthlesslyfiercelyfirmlyresolutely (adverb modifying a verb)

Examples

  • 狠狠。
    Tā hěn hěn dì pī píng le nà ge xué shēng.
    He criticized that student harshly.
  • 狠狠。
    Tā hěn hěn dì dèng le wǒ yì yǎn.
    She gave me a fierce glare.
  • 狠狠。
    Jiào liàn hěn hěn dì xùn chì le duì yuán.
    The coach berated the team members severely.

Origin

Reduplicated word
构词法gòucífǎ
重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

狠hěnruthless
狠hěnruthless

狠 狠 together convey a fierce or firm manner.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
犭Written in full as犬quǎn
Sound part声符shēngfú
艮
艮gèn狠hěn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 狠, the left part 犭 is a shortened form of 犬; the right part 艮 gives the sound.

Open 狠 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
犭Written in full as犬quǎn
Sound part声符shēngfú
艮
艮gèn狠hěn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 狠, the left part 犭 is a shortened form of 犬; the right part 艮 gives the sound.

Open 狠 →
Appears in
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