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好坏 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
好坏hǎohuàigood or badHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #10140, Very Hard
好坏hǎohuàigood and badHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #10140, Very Hard
好坏hǎohuàistandardHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #10140, Very Hard
好坏hǎohuàiqualityHSK 7, unknown, 13 strokes, rank #10140, Very Hard
hǎohuài(hao3huai4)hao huai T3
  1. 1good or bad
  2. 2good and bad
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March 24, 2026

好坏(好壞)hǎohuài(hao3huai4)

好坏 (hǎo huài) refers to the dichotomy of good and bad, often used to discuss quality, standards, or moral values. It's common in contexts assessing performance, behavior, or product quality, emphasizing the duality of judgment in various situations.

Strokes13Frequency#10140DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

The concept of good and bad is deeply embedded in Chinese philosophy, particularly in Confucian teachings, which emphasize moral judgment and social harmony. Discussions about 好坏 often reflect societal values, ethics, and personal conduct.

Memory tip

Imagine a scale balancing a bright, smiling face (好) on one side and a frowning face (坏) on the other. The character 好 has the radical for 'woman' (女), suggesting nurturing qualities, while 坏 contains the radical for 'broken' (坏), indicating something negative. Together, they vividly represent the spectrum of good and bad.

Meanings of 好坏

hǎohuài(hao3huai4)
1good or bad
2good and bad
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About 好坏

好坏Simplified
好壞Traditional
13Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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AI Study Notes for 好坏

Quick Contrast

坏 (bad) vs 差 (poor) — choose 好坏 when discussing a clear good-bad dichotomy, while 差 is more about inadequacy or inferiority without the moral implication.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse the order of the characters or use them inappropriately in sentences. It’s important to remember that 好 (good) typically comes first in positive contexts, while 坏 (bad) is used when discussing negative aspects. Avoid using this word in overly formal contexts, as it can sound too simplistic.

HSK Study Tips

While 好坏 is not explicitly listed in HSK materials, understanding it at the HSK 3-4 level can enhance comprehension of discussions around quality. Students should focus on recognizing it in spoken and written contexts, as well as practicing sentences that illustrate its use.

Common Mistakes

One common mistake is using 好坏 interchangeably with just 好 or 坏, which oversimplifies the meaning. For instance, saying '这个东西是坏' (This thing is bad) may miss the nuance of quality that 好坏 provides when discussing standards.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 好坏

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Component Characters

好hǎogood
HSK 16 strokes女
View full entry
坏huàibad
HSK 27 strokes土
View full entry

How to say good or bad in Chinese

“good or bad” in Chinese is好坏hǎohuài

好坏 (hǎo huài) refers to the dichotomy of good and bad, often used to discuss quality, standards, or moral values. It's common in contexts assessing performance, behavior, or product quality, emphasizing the duality of judgment in various situations.

When to use 好坏

Learners often confuse the order of the characters or use them inappropriately in sentences. It’s important to remember that 好 (good) typically comes first in positive contexts, while 坏 (bad) is used when discussing negative aspects. Avoid using this word in overly formal contexts, as it can sound too simplistic.

好坏 or something close to it

坏 (bad) vs 差 (poor) — choose 好坏 when discussing a clear good-bad dichotomy, while 差 is more about inadequacy or inferiority without the moral implication.

What learners get wrong

One common mistake is using 好坏 interchangeably with just 好 or 坏, which oversimplifies the meaning. For instance, saying '这个东西是坏' (This thing is bad) may miss the nuance of quality that 好坏 provides when discussing standards.

Write 好坏

好
坏

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Frequently Asked Questions about 好坏

Yes, you can use 好坏 to describe someone's moral standing, such as '他的好坏是众所周知的' (His good and bad qualities are well known).

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