like to wear black. ■ 天快黑了,他们还在踢球。 Tiān kuài hēi le, tāmen hái zài tīqiú. It’s almost
dark, but they’re still playing soccer.
hēi’àn 黑暗 [comp: 黑 black, dark + 暗 dim] ADJ dark (ANTONYM 光明 guāngmíng) ■ 他很天真,不 知道
社会的黑暗面。Tā hěn tiānzhēn, bù zhīdào shèhuì de hēi’àn miàn. He is naive, unaware of the
seamy side of society.
hēibǎn 黑板 N blackboard ■ 我们现在不用黑板, 用白板。Wǒmen xiànzài bú yòng hēibǎn, yòng
báibǎn. Now we don’t use the blackboard; we use the whiteboard.
hēikè 黑客 N hacker
hēi 嘿 INTERJ 1 (used to attract someone’s attention in a casual or impolite manner) ■ 嘿,这里不准 吸
烟。Hēi, zhèli bùzhǔn xīyān. Hey! You can’t smoke here. 2 (used to indicate admiration) ■ 嘿,昨
天的球赛咱们队打得真棒!Hēi, zuótiān de qiúsài zánmen duì dǎ de zhēn bàng! Hey, our team
played marvelously in yesterday’s match!
hén 痕 N trace 伤痕 shānghén scar
hénjì 痕迹 N stain, trace
hěn 很 ADV very ■ 见到你, 我很高兴。Jiàndào nǐ, wǒ hěn gāoxìng. I’m glad to meet you. ■ 我很讨厌
下 雨天。Wǒ hěn tǎoyàn xià yǔ tiān. I hate rainy days.
NOTE: When used as predicates, Chinese adjectives normally require an adverb. For example, 我高兴 Wǒ
gāoxìng sounds unnatural, while 我很高兴 Wǒ hěn gāoxìng (I’m [very] happy), 我不高兴 Wǒ bù gāoxìng (I’m
not happy) or 我非常高兴 Wǒ fēicháng gāoxìng (I’m very happy) are normal sentences. The adverb 很 hěn is
often used as a default adverb before an adjective. In such cases the meaning of 很 hěn is very weak.
hěn 狠 ADJ 1 cruel, relentless 心毒手狠 xīndú shǒuhěn with a vicious mind and cruel means 2 severe, stern 狠
狠地批评 hěnhěnde pīpíng criticize severely
hěndú 狠毒 [comp: 狠 cruel + 毒 poisonous] ADJ cruel and vicious
hěnxīn 狠心 I ADJ ruthless II N strong determination 下狠心 xià hěnxīn make a tough decision resolutely
hèn 恨 V 1 hate, be angry with (ANTONYM 爱 ài) ■ 她恨男朋友欺骗了她。Tā hèn nán péngyou qīpiàn le
tā. She hates her boyfriend for cheating on her. 2 regret deeply ■ 他恨自己念书不用功, 但是太
晚了。Tā hèn zìjǐ niànshū bú yònggōng, dànshì tài wǎn le. He deeply regrets not having studied
hard, but it’s too late.
hènbude 恨不得 ADV how ... wish to ■ 他恨不 得马上回家过年。Hā hènbude mǎshàng huíjiā
guònián. How he wished he could go home right now for the Spring Festival.
NOTE: We use 恨不得 to express a wish that is very strong but cannot be fulfilled. If we say 他恨不得马 上回
家过年。Tā hènbude mǎshàng huíjiā guònián, it means it is quite impossible for him to go back home right now.
hēng 哼 V 1 snort ■ 他哼了一声,翻过身去,又睡 了。Tā hēngle yìshēng, fānguo shēn qù, yòu shuì
le. He gave a snort, turned over and fell asleep again. 2 hum ■ 她一边做饭,一边哼着歌。Tā
yìbiān zuòfàn, yìbiān hēngzhe gē. While she cooked, she hummed a song.
héng 横 ADJ horizontal (See zònghéng 纵横.)
héng 恒 ADJ permanent (See yǒnghéng 永恒.)
hōng 轰 TRAD 轟 V rumble, explode
hōngdòng 轰动 [comp: 轰 rumble + 动 move] V cause a sensation, be sensensational
hōngzhà 轰炸 V drop bombs, attack with bombs
hōng 烘 V dry or warm by the fire, roast
hōnggānjī 烘干机 N (clothes) dryer
hóng 洪 ADJ big
hóngshuǐ 洪水 N flood
hóng 红 TRAD 紅 ADJ red ■ 中国人传统上喜欢红颜 色。Zhōngguórén chuántǒng shang xǐhuan hóng
yánsè. Traditionally the Chinese love the color red. ■ 红花绿树,你的花园真好看。Hóng huā, lǜ