硬 yìng

“hard; stiff; solid; (fig.) strong; firm; resolutely; uncompromisingly”

adjective, adverbHSK 4 · 2021 list level 5

新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level

硬 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.

Entry 3386: 硬 yìng — Level 5; official annotation 5 (形、副). PDF page 164

Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.

用法How to use 硬

硬 means “hard” or “stiff”: it describes a solid object that is not soft or that does not bend easily. It is usually used as an adjective after 很/太/非常 or before 的 + noun, as in 很硬 or 硬的东西. Do not use it for “difficult” tasks; that is 难.

例句Example sentences

这张床太硬了，我睡不着。zhè zhāng chuáng tài yìng le, wǒ shuì bù zhe.This bed is too hard; I can't sleep.
面包放久了，变得很硬。miàn bāo fàng jiǔ le, biàn de hěn yìng.The bread got hard after sitting for a long time.
这个球很硬，小心一点。zhè ge qiú hěn yìng, xiǎo xīn yì diǎn.This ball is very hard, so be careful.

常见错误Common mistakes

✗这个考试很硬。

✓这个考试很难。

English “hard” can mean “difficult,” but Chinese uses 难 for tasks, not 硬.