NetChai Chinese

How to Say “Fun” in Chinese

好玩儿
hǎo wánr
Fun · trad. 好玩兒
A child joyfully splashes water at a shallow fountain, illustrating “fun” in Chinese: 好玩儿 (hǎo wánr)

好玩儿 (hǎo wánr) describes something that is fun, enjoyable, or amusing. It is commonly used for places, activities, games, or experiences.

What does 好玩儿 (hǎo wánr) mean?

好玩儿 (hǎo wánr) means “fun” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “good play/fun.”

When to use it

Neutral and widely used. While 好玩儿 is common in northern China, especially Beijing, many southern Chinese speakers simply say 好玩 (hǎo wán) without the 'r' suffix.

How to pronounce it

Sounds like “how-WAHN-er.” The 'r' suffix is a common feature in Beijing dialect, making the 'wan' sound slightly rolled. The first syllable is a third tone, and the second is a second tone.

Other ways to say it

  • 好玩hǎo wánfun (without 'r' suffix)
  • 有趣yǒu qùinteresting; fun
  • 有意思yǒu yìsiinteresting; meaningful; fun

Examples

北京好玩儿吗？
Běijīng hǎo wánr ma?
Is Beijing fun?
这个游戏真好玩儿！
zhège yóuxì zhēn hǎo wánr!
This game is really fun!
我们去一个好玩儿的地方吧。
wǒmen qù yī ge hǎo wánr de dìfang ba.
Let's go to a fun place.
Pro tip: The '儿' (er) suffix in 好玩儿 is a common feature of northern Chinese dialects, particularly Beijing. It adds a slightly informal and often endearing nuance, but it doesn't change the core meaning of 'fun'.

Related phrases

好漂亮 · So pretty真有意思 · Really interesting or fun无聊 · Boring

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