hou2 sik1好識好识
Jyutpinghou2 sik1
Yalehóu sīk
Definition
To know someone or something well.
colloquialpeopledescriptions
How it's used
Focuses on social intelligence or personal familiarity rather than just academic knowledge. When used as 好識做, it specifically refers to someone who is tactful, savvy, or knows how to act appropriately in social or professional situations. It implies a level of street smarts or emotional maturity that goes beyond mere acquaintance.
Examples
He knows how to handle people well, everyone likes him.
Related words
Common phrases
to be tactful or socially savvy
to be good at speaking or persuasive
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 識得, which is more commonly used to express the ability to perform a skill or having learned how to do something. Using 好識 to describe a technical skill can sound unnatural compared to 識得.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
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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.
