友好一点
you hao yi dian
To say 'be nice' in Chinese, use 友好一点 (you hao yi dian).
The phrase 友好一点 is typically used as a suggestion or a mild command to improve one's attitude or social demeanor.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 友好 (friendly), 一点 (a little/a bit) and the implied verb 'to be'.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding 一点 (yi dian) after an adjective is a common way to turn a quality into a suggestion or command to 'be more [adjective]'.
How do you pronounce it?
you hao yi dian
Did you know?
- If you are telling a child to 'be nice' by being polite, you would more likely use 懂事一点 (dǒng shì yī diǎn), which literally means 'be a little more sensible/understand things'.
- The character 友 (you) in 友好 is a pictograph that originally depicted two hands joined together, symbolizing mutual support.
- While 友好 means 'friendly', Chinese speakers often use the word 客气 (ke qi) to describe a specific kind of 'niceness' involving polite formality and social distance.
Examples in context
- 请友好对待我们的合作伙伴Please treat our business partners kindly
- 对别人友好点，这样生活会更美好Be nicer to others, and life will be better
- 对他友好一点。Duì tā yǒuhǎo yīdiǎn.Be a little nicer to him.
- 你应该对同事友好一点。Nǐ yīnggāi duì tóngshì yǒuhǎo yīdiǎn.You should be a bit nicer to your colleagues.
- 对新同学友好一点吧。Duì xīn tóngxué yǒuhǎo yīdiǎn ba.Be nice to the new classmate.
Example conversation
Haoran is being grumpy during a group project.
- 雨婷 Yuting浩然，你对雨婷友好一点。Hàorán, nǐ duì Yǔtíng yǒuhǎo yīdiǎn.Haoran, be nicer to Yuting.
- 浩然 Haoran我没有在生气。wǒ méiyǒu zài shēngqì.I am not angry.
- 雨婷 Yuting但你的语气很凶。dàn nǐ de yǔqì hěn xiōng.But your tone is very harsh.
- 浩然 Haoran好吧，我会友好一点的。hǎo ba, wǒ huì yǒuhǎo yīdiǎn de.Fine, I will be nicer.
