Expressing not knowing how to do something using "hao"
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Level
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Similar to
- Result complements (B1)
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Used for
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Keywords
"不知道⋯⋯好" (bù zhīdao⋯⋯ hǎo) is an expression used to indicate and emphasize that the speaker does not know how to do something, or at least does not know how to do something well.
Structure
Subj. + 不知道 + Verb Phrase + 好
You will sometimes see the adverb 才 preceding the final 好, which serves the purpose of emphasis.
Examples
- 他 不 知道 去 哪个 欧洲 国家 留学 好。He doesn't know which European country to go to study in .
- 跟他在一起,我 不 知道 说什么 好。I don't know what to say to him when I am with him.
- 当时,我 真的 不 知道 怎么 办 才 好。At that time, I didn't really know what to do.
See also
- Expressing lateness with "cai"
- Expressing Difficulty with "hao (bu) rongyi"
- Result complement "-hao"
Sources and further reading