hou2 se1好些
Definition
A good deal of; a lot of; quite a few.
Example
go2嗰dou6度jau5有hou2好se1些jan4人hai2喺dou6度paai4排deoi2隊。
go2嗰dou6度jau5有hou2好se1些jan4人hai2喺dou6度paai4排deoi2队。
There are quite a few people queuing there.
How it's used
Although often translated as a good deal of, this term carries a slightly more literary or formal nuance compared to the ubiquitous 好多. It is frequently used when describing a quantity that is significant but perhaps not overwhelming, often implying a sense of moderate abundance. You will hear it more often in descriptive writing or slightly more formal speech rather than casual, rapid-fire conversation.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often confuse this with 好多, but 好些 is less flexible in casual speech. Using it in very informal settings can make you sound like you are reading from a textbook or a formal document.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- Aspect markersCantonese has no tenses, but it does have aspect markers. Learn how zo2, gwo3, gan2, and hai2 dou6 show completion, experience, and ongoing action.
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
