si6 hou2示好
Jyutpingsi6 hou2
Yalesih hóu
Definition
To show goodwill, make friendly gestures, or offer a reconciliation, often for mutual benefit.
colloquialpeoplecommunication
How it's used
Often implies a calculated motive behind the friendly gesture rather than genuine affection. It frequently appears in professional or political contexts where someone attempts to smooth over a conflict or gain an advantage. Using this term suggests the observer is skeptical of the sincerity of the person making the gesture.
Examples
He suddenly bought me food, is he trying to make peace?
The boss made a gesture of goodwill specifically to retain talent.
Related words
Common phrases
take the initiative to make a gesture of goodwill
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with simply being friendly or polite. It carries a specific nuance of strategic intent to improve a strained relationship, so using it to describe a normal act of kindness can sound suspicious or cynical.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- 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.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
