han2 hou2很好
Jyutpinghan2 hou2
Yalehán hóu
Definition
Very good; excellent.
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Native speakers almost exclusively use 好好 to express that something is very good. Using 很好 is considered a direct translation from Mandarin and sounds unnatural or overly formal in spoken Cantonese. When modifying an adjective, simply using 好 is the standard way to mean very, such as 好靚 or 好食.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using 很好 in daily conversation as it sounds like a textbook translation. Stick to 好好 for emphasis or just 好 for standard intensity.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- QuestionsFrom yes or no questions to asking who, what, where, and when. The patterns you need to ask questions naturally in Cantonese.
- ClassifiersCantonese puts a classifier between a number and a noun, and a bare classifier on its own can mean the. Learn the common ones and how to use them.
- ComparisonsHow to say bigger than, the most, the same as, and not as good as. Cantonese uses 過 where Mandarin uses 比, and that catches a lot of learners out.
