好
hǎo
Good
好 (hǎo) is a fundamental and versatile word in Mandarin Chinese, primarily meaning "good," "well," or "fine." It can function as an adjective, an adverb, or an interjection, expressing approval, agreement, or describing something positive.
What does 好 (hǎo) mean?
好 (hǎo) means “good” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “good / well.”
When to use it
Neutral. To emphasize "very good," use 很好 (hěn hǎo). 不错 (bùcuò) is a common alternative meaning "not bad" or "pretty good," often used as a positive response. When agreeing or confirming, 好的 (hǎo de) means "okay" or "alright."
How to pronounce it
Sounds like "HOW." It's a third tone, which is a dipping tone, falling then rising. Imagine saying "how?" with a slight questioning dip.
Other ways to say it
- 很好hěn hǎovery good
- 不错bùcuònot bad / pretty good
- 好的hǎo deokay / alright (as a response)
Examples
这个主意很好。
zhège zhǔyi hěn hǎo.
This idea is very good.
你身体好吗？
nǐ shēntǐ hǎo ma?
Are you well? (Is your health good?)
好的，我马上就去。
hǎo de, wǒ mǎshàng jiù qù.
Okay, I'll go right away.
Pro tip: While 好 means 'good,' in many contexts, especially when describing something, it's more natural to say 很好 (hěn hǎo) even if you just mean 'good.' Using just 好 by itself can sometimes sound a bit abrupt or incomplete, unless it's in a set phrase like 你好 or as an interjection.
Related phrases
很好吃 · Delicious好朋友 · Best friend最好的朋友 · Best friends
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