Difference between revisions of "Using "hao" to mean "easy""

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
Using 好 (hǎo) to express that something is "easy to do" or "good to do" is... quite easy to do! All you need to do is place a "" (hǎo) before a verb.
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Of course [[好|好 (hǎo)]] means "good." But it can also be used to express that something is "easy to do" or "good to do." And it is quite... ''easy to do''! All you need to do is place a 好 (hǎo) before a [[verb]].
  
 
== General Verbs ==
 
== General Verbs ==
  
Just as 难 (nán) can be used to indicate that it's [[Difficult to do something|hard to do something]], 好 (hǎo) can be attached to verbs, except sensitive words, to indicate that something is ''easy to do.'' The structure is, simply:
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Just as 难 (nán) can be used to indicate that it's [[Expressing "difficult" with "nan"|hard to do something]], 好 (hǎo) can also come before verbs to indicate that something is ''easy to do.''  
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* <em>好懂</em><span class="pinyin">Hǎodǒng</span> <span class="trans">Easy to understand</span>
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* 这 个 词 的 意思 <em>好懂</em>。<span class="pinyin">Zhège cí de yìsi hěn <em>hǎo dǒng</em>.</span><span class="trans">The meaning of this word is easy to understand.</span>
* 这 个 词 的 意思 <em>好懂</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè ge cí de yìsi <em>hěn hǎodǒng</em>.</span> <span class="trans">The meaning of this word is easy to understand.</span>
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* 这 个 汉字 <em>好写</em>。<span class="pinyin">Zhège Hànzì hěn <em>hǎo xiě</em>.</span><span class="trans">This Chinese character is easy to write.</span>
* <em>好写</em><span class="pinyin">Hǎoxiě </span> <span class="trans">Easy to write</span>
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* 三明治 <em>好做</em>。<span class="pinyin">Sānmíngzhì hěn <em>hǎo zuò</em>.</span><span class="trans">Sandwiches are easy to make.</span>
* 这 个 汉字 <em>好写</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè ge hànzì <em>hěn hǎoxiě</em>.</span> <span class="trans">This Chinese character is easy to write.</span>
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* 苹果 手机 现在 <em>好买</em>。 <span class="pinyin">Píngguǒ shǒujī xiànzài hěn <em>hǎo mǎi</em>.</span><span class="trans">iPhones are easy to buy now.</span>
* <em>好做</em><span class="pinyin">Hǎozuò </span> <span class="trans">Easy to do, easy to make</span>
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* 这 个 笔 很 <em>好用</em>。<span class="pinyin">Zhège bǐ hěn <em>hǎo yòng</em>.</span><span class="trans">This pen is easy to use.</span>
* 三明治 <em>好做</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Sānmíngzhì <em>hěn hǎozuò</em>.</span> <span class="trans">Sandwiches are easy to make.</span>
 
* <em>好买</em><span class="pinyin">Hǎomǎi </span> <span class="trans">Easy to buy (implying it's easy to find and buy).</span>
 
* 这 个 东西 现在 <em>好买</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè ge dōngxi xiànzài <em>hěn hǎomǎi</em>.</span> <span class="trans">This thing is easy to buy.</span>
 
* <em>好用</em><span class="pinyin">Hǎoyòng</span> <span class="trans">Easy to use.</span>
 
* 这 个 手机 <em>好用</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè ge shǒujī <em>hěn hǎoyòng</em>.</span> <span class="trans">This cellphone is easy to use.</span>
 
  
 
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== Exceptions ==
 
== Exceptions ==
  
好 (hǎo) can also be attached to "sense verbs" (e.g. "look," "taste," "smell," etc.) to indicate that something is ''''good'' to do'' (rather than "''easy'' to do").
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好 (hǎo) can also be attached to "sense verbs" (e.g. "look," "taste," "smell," etc.) to indicate that something is '''good'' to do'' (rather than "''easy'' to do").
  
 
There's a limited number of these, but some of them are super common, so just memorize them as exceptions:
 
There's a limited number of these, but some of them are super common, so just memorize them as exceptions:
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
*好吃 <span class="pinyin">Hàochī</span> <span class="trans">good to taste, good to eat, delicious</span>
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*好吃 <span class="pinyin">hǎochī</span><span class="trans">good to taste, good to eat, delicious</span>
*好喝 <span class="pinyin">Hàohē</span> <span class="trans">good to taste, good to drink</span>
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*好喝 <span class="pinyin">hǎohē</span><span class="trans">good to taste, good to drink</span>
*好看 <span class="pinyin">Hǎokàn </span><span class="trans">good to look at, good-looking, attractive</span>
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*好看 <span class="pinyin">hǎokàn </span><span class="trans">good to look at, good-looking, attractive</span>
*好听 <span class="pinyin">Hǎotīng</span><span class="trans">good to listen to, pleasant to listen to, good-sounding</span>
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*好听 <span class="pinyin">hǎotīng</span><span class="trans">good to listen to, pleasant to listen to, good-sounding</span>
*好闻 <span class="pinyin">Hǎowén</span><span class="trans">good to smell, smells good, good-smelling</span>
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*好闻 <span class="pinyin">hǎowén</span><span class="trans">good to smell, smells good, good-smelling</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
*好玩 <span class="pinyin">Hǎowán</span><span class="trans">fun</span>
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*好玩 <span class="pinyin">hǎowán</span><span class="trans">fun</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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* 这 首 歌 <em>好听</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè shǒu gē <em>hěn hǎotīng</em>.</span> <span class="trans">This song is great.</span>
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* 这 首 歌 <em>好听</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè shǒu gē hěn <em>hǎotīng</em>.</span><span class="trans">This song is great.</span>
* 这 种 茶 <em>好闻</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè zhǒng chá <em>hěn hǎowén</em>.</span>  <span class="trans">This kind of tea smells good.</span>
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* 这 种 茶 <em>好闻</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè zhǒng chá hěn <em>hǎowén</em>.</span>  <span class="trans">This kind of tea smells good.</span>
* 这 个 包 <em>好看</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè ge bāo <em>hěn hǎokàn</em>.</span> <span class="trans">This bag looks good.</span>
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* 你 的 新 <em>好看</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de xīn bāo hěn <em>hǎokàn</em>.</span><span class="trans">Your new bag looks good.</span>
* 做 的 菜 <em>好吃</em> 。<span class="pinyin">zuò de cài <em>hěn hǎochī</em>.</span>  <span class="trans">The food you make is delicious.</span>
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* 妈妈 做 的 菜 <em>好吃</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Māma zuò de cài hěn <em>hǎochī</em>.</span>  <span class="trans">The food mom makes is delicious.</span>
* 我 觉得 上海 <em>好玩</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ juéde Shànghǎi <em>hěn hǎowán</em>.</span> <span class="trans">I think Shanghai is a lot of fun.</span>
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* 我 觉得 上海 <em>好玩</em> 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ juéde Shànghǎi hěn <em>hǎowán</em>.</span><span class="trans">I think Shanghai is a lot of fun.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
*[[Difficult to do something]]
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*[[Expressing "difficult" with "nan"]]
 
*[[Expressing Difficulty with "hao (bu) rongyi"]]
 
*[[Expressing Difficulty with "hao (bu) rongyi"]]
 
*[[Expressing purpose with "haorang"]] (advanced article)
 
*[[Expressing purpose with "haorang"]] (advanced article)
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[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
 
{{Used for|Describing actions}}
 
{{Used for|Describing actions}}
{{Basic Grammar|好|A2|好 + V|<em>好</em> 做。<em>好</em> 买。|grammar point|ASGJQU93}}
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{{Basic Grammar|好|A2|好 + Verb|<em>好</em> 做。<em>好</em> 买。|grammar point|ASGJQU93}}
{{Similar|Difficult to do something}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "difficult" with "nan"}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing Difficulty with "hao (bu) rongyi"}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing Difficulty with "hao (bu) rongyi"}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing Purpose with "hao"}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing Purpose with "hao"}}

Latest revision as of 08:53, 21 April 2021

Of course 好 (hǎo) means "good." But it can also be used to express that something is "easy to do" or "good to do." And it is quite... easy to do! All you need to do is place a 好 (hǎo) before a verb.

General Verbs

Just as 难 (nán) can be used to indicate that it's hard to do something, 好 (hǎo) can also come before verbs to indicate that something is easy to do.

Structure

The simple form is just:

好 + Verb

If you want to make a sentence out of it:

Subj. + (很) 好 + Verb

Examples

  • 这 个 词 的 意思 很 好懂Zhège cí de yìsi hěn hǎo dǒng.The meaning of this word is easy to understand.
  • 这 个 汉字 很 好写Zhège Hànzì hěn hǎo xiě.This Chinese character is easy to write.
  • 三明治 很 好做Sānmíngzhì hěn hǎo zuò.Sandwiches are easy to make.
  • 苹果 手机 现在 很 好买Píngguǒ shǒujī xiànzài hěn hǎo mǎi.iPhones are easy to buy now.
  • 这 个 笔 很 好用Zhège bǐ hěn hǎo yòng.This pen is easy to use.

Exceptions

好 (hǎo) can also be attached to "sense verbs" (e.g. "look," "taste," "smell," etc.) to indicate that something is good to do (rather than "easy to do").

There's a limited number of these, but some of them are super common, so just memorize them as exceptions:

  • 好吃 hǎochīgood to taste, good to eat, delicious
  • 好喝 hǎohēgood to taste, good to drink
  • 好看 hǎokàn good to look at, good-looking, attractive
  • 好听 hǎotīnggood to listen to, pleasant to listen to, good-sounding
  • 好闻 hǎowéngood to smell, smells good, good-smelling

The word for "fun" in Chinese is also of this form, even though it's not a sense verb:

  • 好玩 hǎowánfun

Examples

  • 这 首 歌 很 好听Zhè shǒu gē hěn hǎotīng.This song is great.
  • 这 种 茶 很 好闻Zhè zhǒng chá hěn hǎowén. This kind of tea smells good.
  • 你 的 新 包 很 好看Nǐ de xīn bāo hěn hǎokàn.Your new bag looks good.
  • 妈妈 做 的 菜 很 好吃Māma zuò de cài hěn hǎochī. The food mom makes is delicious.
  • 我 觉得 上海 很 好玩Wǒ juéde Shànghǎi hěn hǎowán.I think Shanghai is a lot of fun.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books