好

好 (Kangxi radical 38, 女+3, 6 strokes, cangjie input 女弓木 (VND), four-corner 4744₇, composition ⿰女子)

• 𠲡, 𭖝, 𭰕, 𬫓, 𫱪, 𪦟, 𫚻, 𭀿, 𡘏, 䒵, 孬, 𪥸, 恏, 𭁮, 𥁨, 𭒊, 𪀮, 𡤟

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 255, character 11
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 6053
• Dae Jaweon: page 518, character 12
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 2, page 1028, character 1
• Unihan data for U+597D

Historical forms of the character 好
Shang	Western Zhou	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)	Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts

Ideogrammic compound (會意／会意) : 女 (“woman”) + 子 (“child”).

The widely accepted meaning of this character is that the characters for “female” (女) and “child” (子) were put together to form a compound because it was good for a woman to have a child. Similarly, it has been proposed that the compound originally refers to the mutual affection between the mother and child, which then extended to mean “good”. These theories are supported by the smaller 子 found in some oracle bones and bronze inscriptions.

However, broader interpretations of the second character 子 could lead to other theories. 子 could also mean “son”, so it may have meant two children, a boy and a girl next to each other, which is a good fortune to have a boy and a girl. 子 could also mean “man”, so it may have referred to the love between a man and a woman, which is good. Duan Yucai, in his annotated version of Shuowen, interpreted it as originally referring to the beauty of woman. Lastly, it could mean that the “attitude” of a girl was considered good.

The two pronunciations are cognate – pronunciation 2 is the *-s suffixed form, or exoactive/putative of pronunciation 1, literally “to consider good”. Compare 惡 (OC *qaːɡ, “bad; evil”) > 惡 (OC *qaːɡs, “to consider bad; to hate”).

This word has been compared with Proto-Sino-Tibetan *hu (“to raise; to rear; to nourish”): Proto-Lolo-Burmese *hu³, Abor-Miri (Tani) u, Mawo Northern Qiang χu, which is only attested in a limited number of languages. If this is correct, it may be related to 畜 (OC *l̥ʰuɡs, *l̥ʰuɡ, *hluɡ, “to raise; to rear; domesticated animal”). Alternatively, compare Tibetan མཁོ (mkho, “necessary, important”).

Cognate with Central Bai hux (“good”), which may be a loanword from Chinese.

好

1. good; well

   你好嗎？／你好吗？  ―  Nǐ hǎo ma?  ―  How are you?

   你好嗎？／你好吗？ [Cantonese]  ―  nei⁵ hou² maa³? [Jyutping]  ―  How are you?

   真是個好主意！／真是个好主意！  ―  Zhēn shì ge hǎo zhǔyì!  ―  That's a good idea!

   Antonym: 壞／坏 (huài)

2. Used as an interjection.
   1. good; very well; nice
   2. OK; alright

      好，明天見。／好，明天见。  ―  Hǎo, míngtiān jiàn.  ―  OK, see you tomorrow.

      好，我們今天就到這裡。 [MSC, trad.]
      好，我们今天就到这里。 [MSC, simp.]

      Hǎo, wǒmen jīntiān jiù dào zhèli. [Pinyin]

      Alright, we will stop here today.

   3. fine
3. friendly; close; acquainted

   好朋友  ―  hǎo péngyǒu  ―  good friend

   他們對我很好。／他们对我很好。  ―  Tāmen duì wǒ hěn hǎo.  ―  They are very kind to me.

   • 就是姊妹弟兄跟前，誰和我好，我就和誰好。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
     就是姊妹弟兄跟前，谁和我好，我就和谁好。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]

     From: Cao Xueqin, Dream of the Red Chamber, mid-18^th century CE

     Jiù shì zǐmèi dìxiōng gēnqián, shéi hé wǒ hǎo, wǒ jiù hé shéi hǎo. [Pinyin]

     Indeed, just among us brothers and sisters, whoever is kind to me, I'll be kind to them also.

4. (specifically) to start dating; to become romantic partners

   他倆好上了。／他俩好上了。  ―  Tā liǎ hǎo shàng le.  ―  They are in a relationship.

5. done; ready

   我就要好了。  ―  Wǒ jiù yào hǎo le.  ―  I'll be ready very soon.

6. to be good to; easy to

   這水龍頭好擰。／这水龙头好拧。  ―  Zhè shuǐlóngtóu hǎo nǐng.  ―  This tap turns easily.

   這事兒不好辦。／这事儿不好办。  ―  Zhè shìr bù hǎo bàn.  ―  This matter is not easy to deal with.

7. (making it) convenient; easy for

   把東西收拾乾淨，我好打掃房間。 [MSC, trad.]
   把东西收拾干净，我好打扫房间。 [MSC, simp.]

   Bǎ dōngxī shōushí qiánjìng, wǒ hǎo dǎsǎo fángjiān. [Pinyin]

   Put stuff away so that I can clean the room.

   他們用鏡子反射陽光，好讓救援飛機發現。 [MSC, trad.]
   他们用镜子反射阳光，好让救援飞机发现。 [MSC, simp.]

   Tāmen yòng jìngzǐ fǎnshè yángguāng, hǎo ràng jiùyuán fēijī fāxiàn. [Pinyin]

   They used a mirror to reflect sunlight and help the search-and-rescue aircraft find them.

8. to recover from an illness

   佢病咗幾個月都仲未好。 [Cantonese, trad.]
   佢病咗几个月都仲未好。 [Cantonese, simp.]

   keoi⁵ beng⁶ zo² gei² go³ jyut⁶ dou¹ zung⁶ mei⁶ hou². [Jyutping]

   He's been sick for several months and still hasn't recovered.

   好返 [Cantonese]  ―  hou² faan¹ [Jyutping]  ―  to get better; to recover; to heal

9. (somewhat dialectal) very; quite; rather; so

   我好興奮啊！／我好兴奋啊！  ―  Wǒ hǎo xīngfèn a!  ―  I'm so excited!

   好幾天／好几天  ―  hǎo jǐ tiān  ―  quite a few days

   我個中文老師好好人㗎！ [Guangzhou Cantonese, trad.]
   我个中文老师好好人㗎！ [Guangzhou Cantonese, simp.]

   ngo⁵ go³ zung¹ man^4-2 lou⁵ si¹ hou² hou² jan⁴ gaa³! [Jyutping]

   My Chinese teacher is a very nice person!

   我唔係好鍾意你噉做。 [Cantonese, trad.]
   我唔系好钟意你噉做。 [Cantonese, simp.]

   ngo⁵ m⁴ hai⁶ hou² zung¹ ji³ nei⁵ gam² zou⁶. [Jyutping]

   I don't really like you doing it that way.

   潮州話好好學。潮州話好惡學。 [Teochew, trad.]
   潮州话好好学。潮州话好恶学。 [Teochew, simp.]

   From:

   diê⁵ ziu¹ uê⁷ hoh⁴ ho² oh⁸. diê⁵ ziu¹ uê⁷ hoh⁴ oh⁴ oh⁸. [Peng'im]

   Teochew is very easy to learn. Teochew is very hard to learn.

10. a pleasure to (do something); good for (doing something)

    好吃  ―  hǎochī  ―  delicious

    好用  ―  hǎoyòng  ―  a joy to use

    好聽／好听  ―  hǎotīng  ―  pleasant-sounding

    呢把刀幾好使。 [Cantonese, trad.]
    呢把刀几好使。 [Cantonese, simp.]

    ni¹ baa² dou¹ gei² hou² sai². [Jyutping]

    This knife is pretty good to use.

11. properly; carefully

    記得帶好雨具！／记得带好雨具！  ―  Jìdé dài hǎo yǔjù!  ―  Remember to bring along rain gear! / Make sure your rain gear is on you!

    聽好了！／听好了！  ―  Tīng hǎo le!  ―  Now listen carefully!

    食好瞓好／食好𰥛好 [Cantonese]  ―  sik⁶ hou² fan³ hou² [Jyutping]  ―  eat well and sleep well

    做好功課／做好功课 [Cantonese]  ―  zou⁶ hou² gung¹ fo³ [Jyutping]  ―  to do one's homework (as one should)

12. Particle used after verbs to denote the completion or near-completion of an action.

    作業做好了嗎？／作业做好了吗？  ―  Zuòyè zuò hǎo le ma?  ―  Have you finished your homework?

13. Used after a noun or pronoun as a greeting.

    你好  ―  nǐ hǎo  ―  hello

    大家好  ―  dàjiā hǎo  ―  hello, everyone

    老師好／老师好  ―  lǎoshī hǎo  ―  hello, teacher

14. greeting

    問好／问好  ―  wènhǎo  ―  say hello

    替我給你媽帶個好兒。 [MSC, trad.]
    替我给你妈带个好儿。 [MSC, simp.]

    Tì wǒ gěi nǐ mā dài ge hǎor. [Pinyin]

    Say hi for me to your mom.

15. Particle denoting agreement, support or wish to terminate a conversation.
16. Particle denoting dissatisfaction in ironical sentences.
17. (Hokkien) Particle denoting that the listener is still listening or is still interested with what the speaker is saying. (backchanneling)
18. such; what

    好一朵美麗的茉莉花。 [MSC, trad.]
    好一朵美丽的茉莉花。 [MSC, simp.]

    From: 18ᵗʰ century ᴄᴇ, Molihua, a Jiangnan folk song

    Hǎo yī duǒ měilì de mòlìhuā. [Pinyin]

    What a beautiful jasmine.

19. (dialectal) can; should

    我好進來嗎？／我好进来吗？  ―  Wǒ hǎo jìnlái ma?  ―  Can I come in?

    十二點喇，好去瞓覺喇。 [Cantonese, trad.]
    十二点喇，好去𰥛觉喇。 [Cantonese, simp.]

    sap⁶ ji⁶ dim² laa³, hou² heoi³ fan³ gaau³ laa³. [Jyutping]

    It's twelve now. You should go to bed.

    噉都好拗？ [Cantonese]  ―  gam² dou¹ hou² aau³? [Jyutping]  ―  You are really arguing about this? (literally, “That can be argued?”)

    勿認得路末倷勿好問訊個？ [Suzhounese, trad.]
    勿认得路末倷勿好问讯个？ [Suzhounese, simp.]

    Could you not just ask if you don't know the way?

    • 弗是說歇，倷敲門之後我要是弗答應，倷是弗好進來個嗎？ [Suzhounese, trad.]
      弗是说歇，倷敲门之后我要是弗答应，倷是弗好进来个吗？ [Suzhounese, simp.]

      From: 2019, Arknights

      Have I not said before that if I don't respond after you knock, you cannot enter?

20. (Southwestern Mandarin, Xiang) how (to what degree)
21. (rail transport) cleared

    • 3道、調兩，信號好 [MSC, trad.]
      3道、调两，信号好 [MSC, simp.]

      From:

      3 dào, diào liǎng, xìnhào hǎo [Pinyin]

      Track 3, Switcher 2, Signal is cleared

Others:

• → Vietnamese: hẩu (“kind, good, delicious”)

好

1. to be fond of; to like

   好學不倦／好学不倦  ―  hàoxuébùjuàn  ―  to like to learn without feeling tired

   餃子多香啊！我就好這麼一口兒！ [dialectal Mandarin, trad.]
   饺子多香啊！我就好这么一口儿！ [dialectal Mandarin, simp.]

   Jiǎozi duō xiāng a! Wǒ jiù hào zhènme yī kǒur! [Pinyin]

   The dumplings smell so delicious! I indeed like this!

   • 耶穌教訓衆人之時又話、提防個的讀書人呀、佢地好著長衫行遊、歡喜喺市上人地請佢安 [Cantonese, trad.]
     耶稣教训众人之时又话、提防个的读书人呀、佢地好着长衫行游、欢喜喺市上人地请佢安 [Cantonese, simp.]

     From: 1872, 《馬可傳福音書（廣東土白）》 (The Gospel of Mark: Cantonese Vernacular) 12:38

     je⁴ sou¹ gaau³ fan³ zung³ jan⁴ zi¹ si⁴ jau⁶ waa⁶, tai⁴ fong⁴ go³ dik¹ duk⁶ syu¹ jan⁴ aa³, keoi⁵ dei⁶ hou³ zoek³ coeng⁴ saam¹ hang⁴ jau⁴, fun¹ hei² hai² si⁵ soeng⁶ jan⁴ dei⁶ cing² keoi⁵ on¹ [Jyutping]

     And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces

   • 世人哪，耶和華已指示你何為善。他向你所要的是甚麼呢？只要你行公義，好憐憫，存謙卑的心，與你的神同行。 [MSC, trad.]
     世人哪，耶和华已指示你何为善。他向你所要的是什么呢？只要你行公义，好怜悯，存谦卑的心，与你的神同行。 [MSC, simp.]

     From: 新標點和合本 (Chinese Union Version with New Punctuation), 彌迦書 (Micah) 6:8

     Shìrén na, Yēhéhuá yǐ zhǐshì nǐ hé wéi shàn. Tā xiàng nǐ suǒ yào de shì shénme ne? Zhǐyào nǐ xíng gōngyì, hào liánmǐn, cún qiānbēi de xīn, yǔ nǐ de shén tóngxíng. [Pinyin]

     He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

2. to have a tendency to; to be prone to; good to; easy to
3. (dialectal Mandarin, Wu) can; to be able to

   儂好流利個講上海閒話𠲎？ [Shanghainese, trad.]
   侬好流利个讲上海闲话𠲎？ [Shanghainese, simp.]

   ⁶non ⁵hau ⁶lieu-li ⁸geq ⁵kaon ⁶zaon-he-ghe-gho ⁰vaq [Wugniu]

   Can you speak Shanghainese fluently?

   Synonyms: 會／会, 可以

4. a surname