Expressing not knowing how to do something using "hao"

Chinese-grammar-wiki-hao.jpg

"不知道⋯⋯好" (bù zhīdào... 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

Subject + 不知道 + Verb Phrase + 好

You will sometimes see the adverb 才 preceding the final 好, which serves the purpose of emphasis.

Examples

  • 不 知道 怎么 选择 I don't know how to choose well.
  • 不 知道 怎么 说 I don't know how to speak well.
  • 当时,我 真的 不 知道 怎么 办 才 At that time, I didn't really know what to do.

See also

Sources and further reading

HSK4