好
hou
The Cantonese phrase for okay is 好 (hou).
In Cantonese, 好 is often used to mean 'good' or 'very'. However, when used as a standalone response to a request or suggestion, it functions as 'okay' or 'fine'.
Meaning: OK (intj)
Which one should you use?
While 好 can mean 'good' or 'very', when it is used as a standalone response to a request, it functions specifically as 'okay' or 'fine'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make an agreement sound more natural and enthusiastic in spoken Cantonese, you can add the particle 呀 to the word to form 好呀. This is a common way to say 'okay' or 'sure' when responding to a suggestion or request to show willingness.
How do you pronounce it?
hou
Did you know?
- The character 好 is composed of the radicals for 'woman' and 'child', which historically represented the concept of 'goodness' or 'excellence'.
- When asking 'Are you okay?' in a medical or emergency sense, Cantonese speakers often use 冇事 meaning 'no matter' or 'no problem' instead of 好.
- If you are too brief with a single 好 in a text message, a Cantonese speaker might think you are actually angry or upset with them.
Examples in context
- 你冇嘢吖嘛？係咪好大壓力呀？Are you okay? Are you stressed?This sentence uses 好 to ask if someone is okay.Tatoeba #7988185 by nickyeow, translation #4864530 by jarbv
- 「可唔可以借錢俾我呀？我保證會還返俾你。」「好呀，你要借幾多呀？」「廿蚊。」「嗱。」「唔該晒。」"Can I borrow some money? I promise I'll pay you back." "Sure. How much do you need?" "Twenty dollars." "Okay. Here you go." "Thanks."This dialogue uses 好 as a way to say okay in response to a request.Tatoeba #6487565 by nickyeow, translation #5519445 by mailohilohi
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ka Ming and Chiu Tung are deciding on a restaurant.
- 家明 Ka Ming今晚去食日本菜好唔好呀？gam1 maan5 heoi3 sik6 jat6 bun2 coi3 hou2 m4 hou2 aa3?Is it okay if we eat Japanese food tonight?
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung好呀，我都想食。hou2 aa3, ngo5 dou1 soeng2 sik6.Okay, I want to eat it too.
- 家明 Ka Ming咁聽日你想去邊度玩？gam2 ting1 jat6 nei5 soeng2 heoi3 bin1 dou6 waan2?Then where do you want to go tomorrow?
- 曉彤 Hiu Tung去公園行吓啦。heoi3 gung1 jyun4 haang4 haa5 laa1.Let's go for a walk in the park.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
