mei5 hou2美好
Jyutpingmei5 hou2
Yaleméih hóu
Definition
Beautiful, fine, or wonderful; ideal, pleasant, and satisfying.
neutraldescriptionsemotion
How it's used
Unlike its English equivalent, this word is often reserved for abstract concepts, memories, or future prospects rather than describing physical objects or people. It carries a slightly literary or formal tone, making it less common in casual, everyday speech than words like 開心 or 正.
Examples
We have a wonderful memory.
Do you think the future will be wonderful?
Related words
Common mistake
Learners often mistakenly use this to describe people or food, but it sounds unnatural in those contexts. Use 靚 or 好食 instead to describe those things.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
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.
