狠

• Pinyin: hěn
• Hanzi breakdown: 狠 = 犭 (dog) + 艮 (tough), combining animal ferocity with toughness

Meaning

Ruthless; fierce; determined. Showing severity, cruelty, or strong determination.

Can be negative (cruel, heartless) or positive (resolute, determined). Common collocations: 心狠手辣 (ruthless), 狠心 (cruel-hearted), 下狠心 (steel oneself). In modern slang, 狠人 (fierce person) can be admiring. Also used as an adverb meaning 'severely.'

Examples

1. 他下狠心辞掉了高薪工作，决定回乡创业。 He steeled himself to quit his high-paying job and decided to go back to his hometown to start a business.
2. 这位教练对球员要求很狠，但效果确实不错。 This coach is very tough on the players, but the results are indeed good.
3. 她狠狠地瞪了他一眼，转身就走。 She glared at him fiercely, then turned and left.

Usage Guide

Context: character, action, intensity

Tone: emphatic

Do Say

• 你要对自己狠一点。(You need to be tougher on yourself.)
• 他这个人太狠了。(This guy is too ruthless.)

Don't Say

• 混淆狠和很 (Don't confuse 狠 (ruthless) with 很 (very) — they are different characters with different meanings)

Origin & History

Pictophonetic character: 犭 (dog radical) as semantic component suggesting animal fierceness, 艮 as phonetic. Originally depicted a fierce dog.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal