Using "hao" to mean "easy"

Using 好(hǎo) to express that something is "easy to do" or "good to do" is quite easy to do!

Structure with General Verbs

Just as 难 can be used to indicate that it's hard to do something, the adjective 好 (hǎo) can be attached to verbs, except sensitive words, to indicate that something is easy to do. The structure is, simply:

Subject +（很）好 + General Verb

Examples

• 好懂easy to understand
• 这 句 话 很 好懂。This talk is easy to understand.
• 好学easy to learn
• 汉语 很 好学。 Mandarin is easy to learn.
• 好做easy to do(make)
• 三明治 很 好做。Sandwiches are easy to make.
• 好买easy to buy (implying it's easy to find)
• 这 个 东西 现在 很 好买。This thing is easy to buy.

Structure with Sensitive Verbs

好 (hǎo) can also be attached to sensitive verbs ( like:look, taste, smell, sound and so on) to indicate that something is good to do. The structure is:

Subject +（很）好 + Sensitive Verb

Examples

• 好听pleasant to listen to (good listening)
• 这 首 歌 很 好听。This song is great. (This song is a good listen.)
• 好闻 smells good
• 这 只 小 猫 很 好闻。This little cat smells good.
• 好看beautiful/cute/good-looking
• 这 件 衣服 很 好看。This piece of clothing looks good.
• 好吃 delicious (good to eat)
• 你 做的菜 很 好吃。The food you make is delicious.

See also

• Difficult to do something
• Expressing Difficulty with "hao (bu) rongyi"
• Expressing Purpose with "hao" (advanced article)

Sources and further reading

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 233) →buy