好

好 U+597D, 好 ← 奼[U+597C] CJK Unified Ideographs 奾 →[U+597E] Stroke order Stroke order

好 (Kangxi radical 38, 女+3, 6 strokes, Cangjie input 女弓木 (VND), four-corner 47447, composition ⿰女子)

• 𠲡, 𭖝, 𭰕, 𬫓, 𫱪, 𪦟, 𫚻, 𭀿, 𡘏, 䒵, 孬, 𪥸, 恏, 𭁮, 𥁨, 𭒊, 𪀮, 𡤟

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 255, character 11
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 6053
• Dae Jaweon: page 518, character 12
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 2, page 1028, character 1
• Unihan data for U+597D

trad. 好 simp. # 好 alternative forms

Ideogrammic compound (會意 / 会意): 女 (“woman”) + 子 (“child”).

The widely accepted meaning of this character is that the characters for “female” (女) and “child” (子) were put together to form a compound because it was good for a woman to have a child. Similarly, it has been proposed that the compound originally refers to the mutual affection between the mother and child, which then extended to mean “good”. These theories are supported by the smaller 子 found in some oracle bones and bronze inscriptions. See also 保 and the original version of 乳.

However, broader interpretations of the second character 子 could lead to other theories. 子 could also mean “son”, so it may have meant two children, a boy and a girl next to each other, which is a good fortune to have a boy and a girl. 子 could also mean “man”, so it may have referred to the love between a man and a woman, which is good. Duan Yucai, in his annotated version of Shuowen, interpreted it as originally referring to the beauty of woman. Lastly, it could mean that the “attitude” of a girl was considered good.

The two pronunciations are cognate – pronunciation 2 is the *-s suffixed form, or exoactive/putative of pronunciation 1, literally “to consider good”. Compare 惡 (OC *qaːɡ, “bad; evil”) > 惡 (OC *qaːɡs, “to consider bad; to hate”).

This word has been compared with Proto-Sino-Tibetan *hu (“to raise; to rear; to nourish”): Proto-Lolo-Burmese *hu³, Abor-Miri (Tani) u, Mawo Northern Qiang χu, which is only attested in a limited number of languages. If this is correct, it may be related to 畜 (OC *l̥ʰuɡs, *l̥ʰuɡ, *hluɡ, “to raise; to rear; domesticated animal”). Alternatively, compare Tibetan མཁོ (mkho, “necessary, important”).

Cognate with Central Bai hux (“good”), which may be a loanword from Chinese.

好

1. good; well Antonym: 壞 / 坏 (huài) 好人 ― hǎorén ― good person 你好嗎？／你好吗？ ― Nǐ hǎo ma? ― How are you? 你好嗎？／你好吗？ [Cantonese] ― nei5 hou2 maa3? [Jyutping] ― How are you? 真是個好主意！／真是个好主意！ ― Zhēn shì ge hǎo zhǔyì! ― That’s a good idea! 好學唔學，學埋（人）啲衰嘢！ [Cantonese, trad.]好学唔学，学埋（人）啲衰嘢！ [Cantonese, simp.]hou2 hok6 m4 hok6, hok6 maai4 (jan4) di1 seoi1 je5! [Jyutping]You learned to do the bad things (by imitating someone) instead of the good!
2. Used as an interjection.
   1. good; very well; nice
   2. OK; alright 好，明天見。／好，明天见。 ― Hǎo, míngtiān jiàn. ― OK, see you tomorrow. 好，我們今天就到這裡。 [MSC, trad.]好，我们今天就到这里。 [MSC, simp.]Hǎo, wǒmen jīntiān jiù dào zhèli. [Pinyin]Alright, we will stop here today.
   3. fine
   4. (Hokkien) yes; yeah; aye
3. Particle denoting agreement, support or wish to terminate a conversation.
4. Particle denoting dissatisfaction in ironical sentences.
5. (Hokkien) Particle denoting that the listener is still listening or is still interested with what the speaker is saying. (backchanneling cue)
6. friendly; close; acquainted; kind 好朋友 ― hǎo péngyǒu ― good friend 他們對我很好。／他们对我很好。 ― Tāmen duì wǒ hěn hǎo. ― They are very kind to me.
   • 就是姊妹弟兄跟前，誰和我好，我就和誰好。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]就是姊妹弟兄跟前，谁和我好，我就和谁好。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]From: Cao Xueqin, Dream of the Red Chamber, mid-18th century CEJiù shì zǐmèi dìxiōng gēnqián, shéi hé wǒ hǎo, wǒ jiù hé shéi hǎo. [Pinyin]Indeed, just among us brothers and sisters, whoever is kind to me, I’ll be kind to them also.
7. (specifically) to start dating; to become romantic partners 他倆好上了。／他俩好上了。 ― Tā liǎ hǎo shàng le. ― They are in a relationship.
8. done; ready; finished; complete 我就要好了。 ― Wǒ jiù yào hǎo le. ― I’ll be ready very soon.
9. to be good to; easy to 這水龍頭好擰。／这水龙头好拧。 ― Zhè shuǐlóngtóu hǎo nǐng. ― This tap turns easily. 這事兒不好辦。／这事儿不好办。 ― Zhè shìr bù hǎo bàn. ― This matter is not easy to deal with.
10. (making it) convenient; easy for 把東西收拾乾淨，我好打掃房間。 [MSC, trad.]把东西收拾干净，我好打扫房间。 [MSC, simp.]Bǎ dōngxī shōushí qiánjìng, wǒ hǎo dǎsǎo fángjiān. [Pinyin]Put stuff away so that I can clean the room. 他們用鏡子反射陽光，好讓救援飛機發現。 [MSC, trad.]他们用镜子反射阳光，好让救援飞机发现。 [MSC, simp.]Tāmen yòng jìngzǐ fǎnshè yángguāng, hǎo ràng jiùyuán fēijī fāxiàn. [Pinyin]They used a mirror to reflect sunlight and help the search-and-rescue aircraft find them.
11. (Hokkien) merit; benefit; advantage
12. to recover from an illness; to heal; to get better 佢病咗幾個月都仲未好。 [Cantonese, trad.]佢病咗几个月都仲未好。 [Cantonese, simp.]keoi5 beng6 zo2 gei2 go3 jyut6 dou1 zung6 mei6 hou2. [Jyutping]He’s been sick for several months and still hasn’t recovered. 好返 [Cantonese] ― hou2 faan1 [Jyutping] ― to get better; to recover; to heal
13. very; quite; rather; so 我好興奮啊！／我好兴奋啊！ ― Wǒ hǎo xīngfèn a! ― I’m so excited! 好幾天／好几天 ― hǎo jǐ tiān ― quite a few days 我個中文老師好好人㗎！ [Guangzhou Cantonese, trad.]我个中文老师好好人㗎！ [Guangzhou Cantonese, simp.]ngo5 go3 zung1 man4-2 lou5 si1 hou2 hou2 jan4 gaa3! [Jyutping]My Chinese teacher is a very nice person! 我唔係好鍾意你噉做。 [Cantonese, trad.]我唔系好钟意你噉做。 [Cantonese, simp.]ngo5 m4 hai6 hou2 zung1 ji3 nei5 gam2 zou6. [Jyutping]I don’t really like you doing it that way.
    • 潮州話好好學。潮州話好惡學。 [Teochew, trad.]潮州话好好学。潮州话好恶学。 [Teochew, simp.]diê5 ziu1 uê7 hoh4 ho2 oh8. diê5 ziu1 uê7 hoh4 oh4 oh8. [Peng’im]Teochew is very easy to learn. Teochew is very hard to learn.
14. a pleasure to (do something); good for (doing something) 好吃 ― hǎochī ― delicious 好用 ― hǎoyòng ― a joy to use 好聽／好听 ― hǎotīng ― pleasant-sounding 呢把刀幾好使。 [Cantonese, trad.]呢把刀几好使。 [Cantonese, simp.]ni1 baa2 dou1 gei2 hou2 sai2. [Jyutping]This knife is pretty good to use.
15. (after a verb) properly; carefully 記得帶好雨具！／记得带好雨具！ ― Jìdé dài hǎo yǔjù! ― Remember to bring along rain gear! / Make sure your rain gear is on you! 聽好了！／听好了！ ― Tīng hǎo le! ― Now listen carefully! 食好瞓好／食好𰥛好 [Cantonese] ― sik6 hou2 fan3 hou2 [Jyutping] ― eat well and sleep well 做好功課／做好功课 [Cantonese] ― zou6 hou2 gung1 fo3 [Jyutping] ― to do one’s homework (as one should)
16. Particle used after verbs to denote the completion or near-completion of an action. 作業做好了嗎？／作业做好了吗？ ― Zuòyè zuò hǎo le ma? ― Have you finished your homework?
17. Used after a noun or pronoun as a greeting. 你好 ― nǐ hǎo ― hello 大家好 ― dàjiā hǎo ― hello, everyone 老師好／老师好 ― lǎoshī hǎo ― hello, teacher
18. greeting 問好／问好 ― wènhǎo ― say hello 替我給你媽帶個好兒。 [MSC, trad.]替我给你妈带个好儿。 [MSC, simp.]Tì wǒ gěi nǐ mā dài ge hǎor. [Pinyin]Say hi for me to your mom.
19. such; what
    • 好一朵美麗的茉莉花。 [MSC, trad.]好一朵美丽的茉莉花。 [MSC, simp.]Hǎo yī duǒ měilì de mòlìhuā. [Pinyin]What a beautiful jasmine.
20. (dialectal) can 我好進來嗎？／我好进来吗？ ― Wǒ hǎo jìnlái ma? ― Can I come in? 噉都好拗？ [Cantonese] ― gam2 dou1 hou2 aau3? [Jyutping] ― You are really arguing about this? (literally, “That can be argued?”)
21. (Cantonese, Hakka) should 十二點喇，好去瞓覺喇。 [Cantonese, trad.]十二点喇，好去𰥛觉喇。 [Cantonese, simp.]sap6 ji6 dim2 laa3, hou2 heoi3 fan3 gaau3 laa3. [Jyutping]It’s twelve now. You should go to bed.
    • 雅爸都劝讲阿花明年好嫁 [Malaysian Huiyang Hakka, simp.]雅爸都勸講阿花明年好嫁 [Malaysian Huiyang Hakka, trad.]My dad advised that Fa should get married next year.
22. (Southwestern Mandarin, Xiang) how (to what degree) 好久 ― hǎojiǔ ― How long 好多 ― hǎoduō ― How much
23. (rail transport) cleared
    • 3道、調兩，信號好 [MSC, trad.]3道、调两，信号好 [MSC, simp.]3 dào, diào liǎng, xìnhào hǎo [Pinyin]Track 3, Switcher 2, Signal is cleared

• (cleared): 清爽 (qīngshuǎng)

Others:

• → Vietnamese: hẩu (“kind, good, delicious”)

好

1. to be fond of; to like 好學不倦／好学不倦 ― hàoxuébùjuàn ― to like to learn without feeling tired 餃子多香啊！我就好這麼一口兒！ [dialectal Mandarin, trad.]饺子多香啊！我就好这么一口儿！ [dialectal Mandarin, simp.]Jiǎozi duō xiāng a! Wǒ jiù hào zhènme yī kǒur! [Pinyin]The dumplings smell so delicious! I indeed like this! 汝講這句話我好聽。 [Puxian Min, trad.]汝讲这句话我好听。 [Puxian Min, simp.]dy3 gorng3 zeh6 gu4 ua5 gua3 hor4 tia1. [Pouseng Ping’ing]I love to hear you say that.
   • 耶穌教訓衆人之時又話、提防個的讀書人呀、佢地好著長衫行遊、歡喜喺市上人地請佢安 [Cantonese, trad.]耶稣教训众人之时又话、提防个的读书人呀、佢地好着长衫行游、欢喜喺市上人地请佢安 [Cantonese, simp.]je4 sou1 gaau3 fan3 zung3 jan4 zi1 si4 jau6 waa6, tai4 fong4 go3 dik1 duk6 syu1 jan4 aa3, keoi5 dei6 hou3 zoek3 coeng4 saam1 hang4 jau4, fun1 hei2 hai2 si5 soeng6 jan4 dei6 cing2 keoi5 on1 [Jyutping]And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces
   • 世人哪，耶和華已指示你何為善。他向你所要的是甚麼呢？只要你行公義，好憐憫，存謙卑的心，與你的神同行。 [MSC, trad.]世人哪，耶和华已指示你何为善。他向你所要的是什么呢？只要你行公义，好怜悯，存谦卑的心，与你的神同行。 [MSC, simp.]Shìrén na, Yēhéhuá yǐ zhǐshì nǐ hé wéi shàn. Tā xiàng nǐ suǒ yào de shì shénme ne? Zhǐyào nǐ xíng gōngyì, hào liánmǐn, cún qiānbēi de xīn, yǔ nǐ de shén tóngxíng. [Pinyin]He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
2. to have a tendency to; to be prone to; good to; easy to
3. (dialectal Mandarin, Wu) can; to be able to 儂好流利個講上海閒話𠲎？ [Shanghainese, trad.]侬好流利个讲上海闲话𠲎？ [Shanghainese, simp.]6non 5hau 6lieu-li 8geq 5kaon 6zaon-he-ghe-gho 0vaq [Wugniu]Can you speak Shanghainese fluently? 弗認得路末倷弗好問訊個？ [Suzhounese, trad.]弗认得路末倷弗好问讯个？ [Suzhounese, simp.]Could you not just ask if you don’t know the way?
   • 弗是說歇，倷敲門之後我要是弗答應，倷是弗好進來個嗎？ [Suzhounese, trad.]弗是说歇，倷敲门之后我要是弗答应，倷是弗好进来个吗？ [Suzhounese, simp.]7feq-0zy6 7seq-shiq1; 6ne 1khau 6men 1tsyu-gheu6 6ngou 1iau5-zy6 7feq 7taeq-0in5; 6ne 0zy6 7feq-hau3 0tsin5-le2 0keq7 0ma [Wugniu]Have I not said before that if I don’t respond after you knock, you cannot enter?

   Synonyms: 會 / 会, 可以

4. (Teochew) to be willing to
5. a surname

• “好”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎[7], 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014-
• Dictionary of Chinese Character Variants (教育部異體字字典), A00883
• “好”, in 教育部臺灣台語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwanese Taigi] (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2026.

(Fourth grade kyōiku kanji)

1. fondness, what one likes

• Go-on: こう (kō, Jōyō)←かう (kau, historical)
• Kan-on: こう (kō, Jōyō)←かう (kau, historical)
• Kun: すき (suki, 好き)、すく (suku, 好く, Jōyō)、このむ (konomu, 好む, Jōyō)、このみ (konomi)、よい (yoi, 好い)、よし (yoshi)、よしみ (yoshimi, 好)、すみよい (sumiyoi)、すみよし (sumiyoshi)、よろし (yoroshi)、よろしい (yoroshii)

Kanji in this term 好 よしみGrade: 4 nanori

• (Tokyo) よしみ [yòshímí] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA(key): [jo̞ɕimʲi]

好(よしみ) • (Yoshimi)

1. a male given name

• “△好”, in 漢字ぺディア [Kanjipedia]‎[8] (in Japanese), The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation, 2015-2026

好 • (ho) (hangeul 호, revised ho, McCune-Reischauer ho)

1. to like

好: Hán Việt readings: hiếu (呼(hô)到(đáo)切(thiết))[1][2][3], hảo (呼(hô)晧(hạo)切(thiết))[1][2][3] 好: Nôm readings: hiếu[1][2][4], háu[1][3][4], háo[1][3], hảo[2][4], hẩu[1][3], hấu[3], hão[4], hếu[4]

1. (only in compound) chữ Hán form of hiếu (“to like, to be fond of”)
2. (only in compound) chữ Hán form of hảo (“good, well; kind”)
3. (only in dưa hấu) chữ Hán form of hấu (“delicious”)