hou2 haai4 zi2好孩子
Jyutpinghou2 haai4 zi2
Yalehóu hàaih jí
Definition
Good or well-behaved child.
colloquialpeoplefamily
How it's used
This term is frequently used by adults when praising or encouraging children to behave well. It carries a slightly formal or moralistic tone compared to simply calling someone 乖. It is often used in a pedagogical context to reinforce positive behavior.
Measure word
go3個goExamples
Be a good kid, and I will take you out to play tomorrow.
Related words
Common phrases
to be a good child
Common mistake
Do not use this to describe adults as it sounds patronizing or infantilizing. If you want to describe an adult who is obedient or well-behaved, use 乖 or 聽話 instead.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
