hou2 teng1好聽好听
Jyutpinghou2 teng1
Yalehóu tēng
Definition
(adjective) (of music) 1. Great (so someone loves it); (of the words in conversation) Polite and reasonable
colloquialdescriptions
How it's used
Beyond describing music or singing voices, this term is frequently used to describe someone's tone of voice or the way they phrase things. It can also be used sarcastically to describe words that sound nice but lack sincerity, similar to how one might describe empty flattery.
Examples
le1 sau2 go1 zan1 hai6 hou2 teng1 aa4
呢首歌真係好聽呀。
This song is really pleasant to listen to.
nei5 gok3 dak1 le1 baa2 sing1 hou2 teng1 m4 hou2 teng1
你覺得呢把聲好聽唔好聽？
Do you think this voice sounds good?
Related words
Common phrases
coeng3 go1 hou2 teng1
唱歌好聽
to sing well
gong2 je5 hou2 teng1
講嘢好聽
to speak in a pleasant or persuasive way
Common mistake
Avoid using this to describe a person's personality or character, as it strictly refers to auditory experiences. If you want to say someone is pleasant to be around, use 好相處 instead.
Tone guide
T1High level
T2High rising
T3Mid level
T4Low falling
T5Low rising
T6Low level
Grammar guides
- TonesCantonese has six tones, and the tones can change in certain grammatical contexts. Learn the six tones and the rules for tone change.
- NegationHow to say no, not, didn't, and don't in Cantonese. The four main negation words and when to use each one.
- 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.
