very; quite; (also, often used before an adjective without intensifyin
Phonosemantic compound. 彳 represents the meaning and 艮 represents the sound. Based on the original meaning "go against". The meaning later shifted to "fight", "ruthless", "extraordinary", and "very". Etymologically related to 狠.
《說文》：“很，不聽从也。一曰行難也。一曰盭也。从彳，聲。”
go against