What does 好 mean in Chinese?

好 (hǎo) means "good; well; proper; good to; easy to; very; so; (suffix indicating completion or readiness); (of two people) close; on intimate terms" in Chinese. The new HSK exam tests it at HSK 1.

How do you pronounce 好?

好 is pronounced "hǎo" in Mandarin Chinese. The tone number is 3.

What HSK level is 好?

好 is an HSK 1 word on the new HSK exam syllabus. It is HSK 1 on both the old and the new exam.

What words contain the character 好?

Common words with 好 include 不好意思 (to feel embarrassed), 不怀好意 (to harbor evil designs), 上好 (first-rate), 不好 (no good), 不太好 (not so good).

How do you write 好?

好 has 6 strokes. Its radical is 女. You can view the stroke order animation on our stroke order tool.

好 (hǎo), good

好

hǎo

good; well; proper; good to

HSK 16 strokes

Character Breakdown

好 = 女 + 子

A woman and child together — good

Radical: 女 (no. 38)Strokes: 6

View stroke order →

Definitions

good
well
proper
good to
easy to
very
so
(suffix indicating completion or readiness)
(of two people) close
on intimate terms

Example Sentences

这个很好！

Zhège hěn hǎo

This is very good!

Words Containing 好

Word	Pinyin	Meaning	HSK
不好意思	bù hǎo yì si	to feel embarrassed	HSK 2
不怀好意	bù huái hǎo yì	to harbor evil designs
上好	shàng hǎo	first-rate
不好	bù hǎo	no good
不太好	bù tài hǎo

Related Words

不太好(bù tài hǎo)· not so good

→

不离儿(bù lí r)· not bad

→

仁人君子(rén rén jūn zǐ)· people of good will (idiom); charitable person

→

千军易得，一将难求(qiān jūn yì dé , yī jiàng nán qiú)· Easy to raise an army of one thousand, but hard to find a good general. (idiom)

→

Grammar Notes

Questions with 吗HSK 1

Statement + 吗？

Adjectives with 很HSK 1

Subject + 很 + Adjective

This/That with 这/那HSK 1

这/那 + Measure Word + Noun

Although (虽然...但是)HSK 2

虽然 + Concession, 但是/可是 + Contrast

Basic Resultative ComplementsHSK 2

Subject + Verb + Resultative Complement (+ Object)

Appears in these articles

HSK levels

New HSK exam: HSK 1
HSK 2.0: HSK 1
HSK Lord study list: HSK 1 list

好: HSK 1 on both the old and the new exam. See where your old level lands

New exam levels follow the CLEC syllabus released 15 November 2025. The first official sitting is announced for 13 December 2026. HSK 7-9 is one advanced band.

On the new HSK 1 exam

Studying for HSK 1? Keep 好 with the rest of your level.

HSK Lord schedules your reviews so each character comes back right before you would forget it. Free to start, and it picks up where you are.

Start studying free The words new HSK 1 adds

Frequently Asked Questions

Reviewed by RJ Murray, Founder, HSK Lord.