HSK 6 · VERSION 2.0#3

Emphasizing with “hěn shì”

很是

hěn shì

How it works

很是 (hěn shì) is a formal or literary intensifier meaning “very,” “indeed,” or “quite.” It often appears in written Chinese or elevated narration and is especially common before adjectives or psychological states.

Compared with plain 很 (hěn), 很是 (hěn shì) sounds more expressive and slightly more literary.

Example sentences

听完他的那番话，我心里很是感动，一时竟不知道该说些什么。

Tīng wán tā de nà fān huà, wǒ xīnli hěn shì gǎndòng, yìshí jìng bù zhīdào gāi shuō xiē shénme.

After hearing what he said, I was deeply moved and for a moment did not know what to say.

看到多年未见的老朋友突然出现在门口，她脸上很是惊讶。

Kàndào duō nián wèi jiàn de lǎo péngyou tūrán chūxiàn zài ménkǒu, tā liǎn shàng hěn shì jīngyà.

Seeing an old friend she had not seen for many years suddenly appear at the door, she looked quite astonished.

这段时间事情太多，他整个人显得很是疲惫。

Zhè duàn shíjiān shìqing tài duō, tā zhěng ge rén xiǎnde hěn shì píbèi.

There have been too many things lately, and he seemed exhausted overall..

Key point

很是 (hěn shì) is especially common in descriptive writing and often adds emotional color.

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