很好
hěn hǎo
The phrase 'very nice' in Chinese is translated as 很好 (hěn hǎo).
很好 is used to describe something that is of high quality or very pleasing. Depending on the context, you can extend this phrase to be more specific: use 很好看 to describe something visually pleasing, such as a movie or a person's appearance and use 很好吃 when describing food to mean 'very delicious'. For even stronger expressions, you might use 非常好 for something 'extremely good' or 真棒 for something 'awesome' or 'great'.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 很 (hěn) literally means 'very'.
Which one should you use?
While 很好 means 'very nice', the phrase 非常好 (fēicháng hǎo) expresses a higher degree of intensity, closer to 'extraordinarily good'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, the phrase 好正 (hou zing) is commonly used to mean 'very nice'.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase 很好, the adverb 很 is often used as a grammatical filler even if the speaker does not strictly mean 'extremely' nice. Without it, the sentence can sound incomplete or comparative. Additionally, if you want to express that something is 'very nice' or 'amazing' in a casual setting, you can use the slang term 牛 (niú).
How do you pronounce it?
hěn hǎo
Did you know?
- The word 好 (hǎo) used in 'very nice' is composed of two parts: a woman and a child, which historically represented a desirable or 'good' state in Chinese culture.
- In casual Chinese slang, you can describe something 'very nice' by simply calling it 牛 (niú), which literally translates to 'cow' or 'ox'.
- When people say 很好 in a professional setting, they may nod slightly or use a softer tone to avoid sounding overly aggressive or arrogant.
Examples in context
- 你看上去很好。You look very nice.This sentence is useful for describing someone's appearance using 很好.Tatoeba #5091401 by mirrorvan, translation #3330999 by CK
- 這部電影很好看。This film is very nice to look at.This sentence shows how to describe a movie as being 'very nice to look at' using 很好.Tatoeba #5941710 by xjjAstrus, translation #7765356 by sharris123
- 汤姆对我一直很好。Tom has always been very nice to me.This sentence is used to describe someone being 'very nice' to a person using 很好.Tatoeba #5574777 by verdastelo9604, translation #4499557 by CK
- 他的演讲很好。 (Tā de yǎnjiǎng hěn hǎo)His speech is very nice.
- 你的工作质量非常好。 (Nǐ de gōngzuò zhìliàng fēicháng hǎo)The quality of your work is extremely good.
- 你的表演太棒了! (Nǐ de biǎoyǎn tài bàng le!)Your performance was amazing!
- 这个游戏太牛了! (Zhège yóuxì tài niú le!)This game is so cool!
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Xiaowen and Zhiqiang are visiting a new cafe.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen这家咖啡馆很好。Zhè jiā kāfēiguǎn hěn hǎo.This cafe is very nice.
- 志强 Zhiqiang是的，环境很好。Shì de, huánjìng hěn hǎo.Yes, the environment is very nice.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen志强，你觉得怎么样？Zhìqiáng, nǐ juéde zěnmeyàng?Zhiqiang, what do you think?
- 志强 Zhiqiang我觉得很好。Wǒ juéde hěn hǎo.I think it's very nice.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
