hou2 waa2好話好话

Jyutpinghou2 waa2

Yalehóu wá

Very common

Definition

Kind words or words of praise said to make someone look good to others.

colloquialpeoplecommunication

How it's used

Often used in the context of seeking a favor or trying to influence someone's opinion of a third party. It implies a strategic effort to improve someone's reputation or chances, rather than just offering a generic compliment. The structure usually involves asking someone to speak these words on your behalf.

Examples

nei5你bong1幫ngo5我喺hai2老lou5細sai3面min6前cin4講gong2幾gei2句geoi3好hou2話waa6啦。

Please put in a good word for me in front of the boss.

keoi5佢ping4平si4時gam3咁seoi1衰，bin1邊jau5有jan4人wui2會bong1幫keoi5佢gong2講hou2好waa6話aa1呀？

He is usually so mean, who would ever speak well of him?

Common phrases

gong2講hou2好waa6話

to put in a good word

bong1幫jan4人gong2講hou2好waa6話

to speak well of someone

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with the Mandarin phrase 說好話, which can sometimes imply a more general sense of speaking kindly or being a peacemaker. In Cantonese, it is almost exclusively used in the transactional sense of lobbying for someone's benefit.