好的
hǎode
Ok
好的 (hǎo de) is a very common and versatile way to say "ok" in Mandarin Chinese. It's used to agree, confirm, acknowledge, or indicate understanding. It can mean "okay," "alright," "good," or "yes."
What does 好的 (hǎode) mean?
好的 (hǎode) means “ok” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “good (particle) / okay.”
When to use it
Neutral and polite. For a more formal "can" or "may," use 可以 (kěyǐ). For "no problem," use 没问题 (méi wèntí). Among friends, you might hear 行 (xíng) or just a simple 嗯 (èn) for "mm-hmm / okay."
How to pronounce it
Sounds like "HOW-duh." The "hao" is a third tone, and the "de" is usually a light, neutral tone.
Other ways to say it
- 可以kěyǐokay / can (permission/possibility)
- 没问题méi wèntíno problem / okay
- 行xíngokay / alright (casual)
Examples
好的，请稍等。
hǎode, qǐng shāoděng.
Okay, please wait a moment.
你明天能来吗？好的。
nǐ míngtiān néng lái ma? hǎode.
Can you come tomorrow? Okay.
好的，我知道了。
hǎode, wǒ zhīdào le.
Okay, I got it.
Pro tip: The character 的 (de) in 好的 is almost always pronounced with a neutral tone, making it sound softer and less emphasized than a full fourth tone.
Related phrases
是 · Yes我明白了 · I understand不是 · No
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