好靚
hou2 leng3
The Cantonese phrase for "very pretty" is 好靚 (hou2 leng3).
好靚 is used to describe someone or something that is visually attractive. It is more frequently used for visual aesthetics rather than describing a person's character or personality.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 好 (hou2), meaning 'very' or 'good' and 靚 (leng3), meaning 'pretty' or 'beautiful'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make an observation sound more natural and expressive, you can add the sentence-final particle 呀 to the end of the phrase, forming 好靚呀.
How do you pronounce it?
hou2 leng3
Did you know?
- In a traditional Hong Kong market, a vendor might call a customer 靚女 ('pretty girl') or 靚仔 ('pretty boy') regardless of their actual appearance to be polite.
- The word 靚 is so versatile that it can also be used as a slang term for 'excellent' or 'great' when referring to a plan or a deal. A 'pretty good' deal can be described as 靚.
- The character 靚 contains the radical for 'woman' (女) on the left side. This reflects the historical linguistic association of beauty with femininity.
Examples in context
- 我鄉下好靚。My hometown is very pretty.This sentence is useful for describing the visual beauty of a location using 好靚.Tatoeba #5734106 by nickyeow, translation #474080 by CM
- 你今日好靚喎！You look very pretty today!
- 呢件衫好靚。nei1 gin6 saam1 hou2 leng3.This piece of clothing is very pretty.
- 嗰個花園好靚。go2 go3 faa1 jyun4 hou2 leng3.That garden is very pretty.
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a flower garden.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting俊傑，睇下啲花，好靚！Jun1 Kit3, tai2 haa2 di1 faa1, hou2 leng3!Jun Kit, look at the flowers, they are very pretty!
- 俊傑 Chun Kit真係好靚，我都好鍾意。zan1 hai6 hou2 leng3, ngo5 dou1 hou2 zung1 ji3.They really are very pretty, I like them too.
- 雅婷 Nga Ting我想影張相。ngo5 soeng2 jing2 zoeng1 soeng1.I want to take a photo.
- 俊傑 Chun Kit好啊，我幫你影。hou2 aa3, ngo5 bong1 nei5 jing2.Sure, I'll help you take it.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
