好好学习
hǎohǎo xuéxí
The English phrase "study hard" is translated into Chinese as 好好学习 (hǎohǎo xuéxí).
好好学习 means to put a lot of effort and focus into learning or academic work. The phrase is often used as an imperative (a command or encouragement) to tell someone to focus on their studies.
What does it mean word for word?
The reduplicated word 好好 (hǎohǎo) literally means "properly" or "well" and is used here to indicate doing something thoroughly or with full effort.
How do you pronounce it?
hǎohǎo xuéxí
Did you know?
- The word 学 (xué) originally depicted a child under a roof, symbolizing the physical space of a school.
- The phrase 好好学习 is the first half of a famous slogan from the 1950s: 好好学习, 天天向上, which means 'study hard and make progress every day'.
- In many Chinese-speaking households, telling a child to 好好学习 is considered a standard way for elders to express affection and concern for the child's future success.
Examples in context
- 只有你好好学习才可以考得上大学。Only if you study hard will you be able to get into university.This sentence shows the condition of studying hard to reach a goal like university.Tatoeba #1477290 by GlossaMatik, translation #1477308 by sundown
- 好好学习。Study hard.This is a direct imperative to study hard.Tatoeba #5092230 by mirrorvan, translation #53465 by CK
- 他想，如果不好好学习，怎么对得起祖国的人民呢？He thought, If I don't study hard, how can I be worthy of my countrymen?This sentence shows the internal thought of someone connecting hard study to their sense of duty.Tatoeba #3709356 by trieuho, translation #8640056 by hamsolo474
- 加油学习！你一定能行！(Jiā yóu xué xí! Nǐ yī dìng néng xíng!)Keep up the good work in your studies! You can do it!
Example conversation
A parent and child are talking about upcoming exams.
- 俊杰 Junjie梓涵，你要好好学习，准备下周的考试。Zǐhán, nǐ yào hǎohǎo xuéxí, zhǔnbèi xiàzhōu de kǎoshì.Zihan, you need to study hard to prepare for next week's exam.
- 梓涵 Zihan我知道了，我会好好学习的。Wǒ zhīdào le, wǒ huì hǎohǎo xuéxí de.I know, I will study hard.
- 俊杰 Junjie现在就开始复习吧，不要在手机上玩了。Xiànzài jiù kāishǐ fùxí ba, bùyào zài shǒujī shàng wán le.Start reviewing now, stop playing on your phone.
- 梓涵 Zihan好的，我现在就去学习。Hǎo de, wǒ xiànzài jiù qù xuéxí.Okay, I'm going to study right now.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
