Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 很好 | hěn hǎo |
| 不錯 / 不错 | búcuò |
| 棒 | bàng |
| 卓越 | zhuóyuè |
To say something is 'very good' in a standard way, use 很好. If you want to express that something is 'really not bad' or 'quite good' in everyday conversation, you can use 不错 or the informal 真不错. For a stronger, more colloquial sense of 'excellent' or 'awesome', use 棒. In informal settings, you can also use 好极了 to mean 'wonderful' or 'excellent' or 很棒 for 'very good'. If you are referring to a person of major significance, such as a historical or political figure, the specific term is 伟人.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 不错 literally means 'not wrong' or 'not bad', but it is commonly used to express that something is 'quite good' or 'great'.
Which one should you use?
While 很好 is a standard way to say 'very good', 棒 is more colloquial and carries a stronger sense of being 'excellent' or 'awesome'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For formal situations where you want to indicate something is outstanding or 'very excellent', use 十分出色. To describe greatness in terms of high-level achievement, quality or eminence, use the formal term 卓越. For everyday, informal interactions, you might use 不错, 很棒 or 好极了.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the word 棒 to create an exclamation like 'Great!', it is common to use the pattern 太…了 to form 太棒了.
How do you pronounce it?
hěn hǎo
Did you know?
- The meaning of 棒 shifted from 'stick' to 'hard' and eventually to 'excellent' or 'skillful'.
- In Chinese culture, saying something is 不错 ('not bad') is often a genuine way of saying it is 'great' rather than a lukewarm compliment.
- When using 棒 to mean 'great', speakers may accompany the word with a 'thumbs up' gesture, which is a widely understood sign of approval in China.
Examples in context
- 你开车很好。You're great at driving.This sentence shows how to use 很好 to describe a skill.Tatoeba #4265129 by notabene, translation #13682149 by frpzzd
- 謝謝，很好！Thanks, great!This sentence shows how to use 很好 as a positive response.Tatoeba #6559018 by xjjAstrus, translation #8261970 by francaisr0wlet
- 你的記憶力很好。You've got a great memory.This sentence shows how to use 很好 to describe a quality like memory.Tatoeba #3148828 by cienias, translation #3357809 by CK
- 很棒！It's great!
- 太棒了！这将是一次重要的商务活动。That's great! It will be an important business event.
- 你们的考试成绩都非常好！You all did great on your exams!
- 34 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Wei and Jiayi are discussing a movie they just watched.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen這部電影很好。Zhè bù diànyǐng hěn hǎo.This movie is great.
- 伟 Wei是的，劇情很好。Shì de, jùqíng hěn hǎo.Yes, the plot is great.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen佳怡，妳覺得演員也很好嗎？Jiāyí, nǐ juédé yǎnyuán yě hěn hǎo ma?Jiayi, do you think the actors were also great?
- 伟 Wei對，演技很好。Duì, yǎnjì hěn hǎo.Right, the acting was great.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “great” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 棒, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
