bien
/byen/
Just like a thumbs-up, 'bien' shows that an action is done correctly or in a good way.
bien (Adverb)
📝 In Action
Ella canta muy bien.
A1She sings very well.
No me siento bien hoy.
A1I don't feel well today.
El examen me salió bien.
A2The exam went well for me.
💡 Grammar Points
Adverb vs. Adjective: `bien` vs. `bueno`
Bien usually describes how you do something (an action), while bueno describes what something is like (a person or thing). Think: 'sing well' (cantar bien) vs. 'a good song' (una buena canción).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using `bueno` instead of `bien` for Health
Mistake: "Estoy bueno."
Correction: Estoy bien. (I am well.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Answering 'How are you?'
The most common and natural answer to ¿Cómo estás? is simply Bien, gracias. (Fine, thanks.). It's your go-to response.
When placed before another word, 'bien' can work like a magnifying glass, making its meaning stronger.
bien (Adverb)
📝 In Action
La película es bien buena.
A2The movie is really good.
Vives bien lejos de aquí.
B1You live very far from here.
Llegamos bien temprano.
B1We arrived really early.
💡 Grammar Points
A Stronger 'Muy'
Using bien instead of muy before another word often adds a little more emphasis, like saying 'really' instead of 'very'. It's very common in everyday conversation.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Placement is Key
Mistake: "La casa es grande bien."
Correction: La casa es bien grande.
As a noun, 'el bien' refers to the idea of good, the opposite of evil ('el mal').
bien (Noun)
📝 In Action
Es importante distinguir entre el bien y el mal.
B1It's important to distinguish between good and evil.
Lo hago por tu bien.
B1I'm doing it for your own good.
Sus bienes incluyen una casa y dos coches.
B2His assets include a house and two cars.
⭐ Usage Tips
Singular vs. Plural Meaning
Remember that the meaning changes with the number. El bien is the concept of 'good'. Los bienes are physical or financial 'goods' or 'assets'.
As a quick response, '¡Bien!' works just like 'Okay!' or 'Good!' to show you agree or understand.
bien (Interjection)
📝 In Action
—¿Nos vemos a las cinco? —¡Bien!
A1—Shall we meet at five? —Okay!
Bien, empecemos con la lección de hoy.
A2Right, let's start with today's lesson.
—Terminé la tarea. —Bien.
A1—I finished the homework. —Good.
⭐ Usage Tips
The All-Purpose Agreement Word
You can use 'Bien' by itself to quickly agree to a suggestion, acknowledge something someone said, or even to start a new thought.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: bien
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'bien' to mean 'very' or 'really'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between 'bien' and 'bueno'?
The simplest rule is that 'bien' describes actions (it tells you *how* something is done), while 'bueno' describes things or people (it tells you *what* they are like). For example, 'Él canta bien' (He sings well) but 'Él es un buen cantante' (He is a good singer).
Can 'bien' ever be an adjective?
Yes, but it's rare and a bit advanced. It can be used after a noun to describe 'respectable' or 'well-off' people, like in 'una familia bien' (a respectable family). In this case, it doesn't change for gender or number, which is unusual for an adjective.
Why do people say 'bien' instead of 'muy'?
Using 'bien' to mean 'very' (like in 'bien grande' for 'very big') is very common in spoken Spanish, especially in Latin America. It often adds a bit more emphasis than 'muy' and makes your speech sound more natural and conversational.