很
hěn
Why Chinese 很 is not really the word for 'very'
The picture A small block slipped in under an adjective that was tipping over, holding it upright. 很 props a word up one notch; 非常 shoves the needle all the way to the end.
Where the picture shows up in 很
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standing the weather up
今天很热，多喝水。
jīn tiān hěn rè, duō hē shuǐ
It is hot today — drink plenty of water.
The word 'hot' leaning over until a small block slides under it and holds it straight
Saying 今天热 with no 很 leaves the sentence sounding cut off mid-way.
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standing a person's state up
老板现在很忙，请等一下。
lǎo bǎn xiàn zài hěn máng, qǐng děng yí xià
The boss is busy right now, please wait a moment.
A manager buried in paperwork, a sign reading 'busy' sitting level on a block beside him
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standing a feeling up
我很喜欢这个工作。
wǒ hěn xǐ huan zhè ge gōng zuò
I like this job.
A cup of liking held in front of the chest, sitting flat on its saucer without a wobble
It goes in front of feeling verbs like 喜欢, 想, 希望 as well.
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the slot for judging a price
这家店的价格很合理。
zhè jiā diàn de jià gé hěn hé lǐ
The prices at this shop are fair.
A hand lifting a price tag, nodding, then setting it back in its place on the shelf
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it props the bad side up too
对不起，我今天很不舒服。
duì bu qǐ, wǒ jīn tiān hěn bù shū fu
Sorry, I feel quite unwell today.
A hand on the forehead, the sign 'not well' resting level on that same block
Before a negative (很不) it becomes 'quite not ...'.
All of it in one picture
很 is one small block. Put it in front of hot weather and 'hot' stands up as a whole sentence; put it in front of a busy person and that state becomes speakable. The same block goes under a feeling, under a price you are judging, under a body that is not well. It does not turn the volume up — it keeps the word from falling over.