好声好气 (hǎo shēng hǎo qì) — (fixed expression) in a kindly manner; gently; politely and patiently (when speaking)

Definition

An idiom meaning 'in a kindly manner / gently' — stresses speaking or tone of voice that is calm and patient, not harsh. Used as 好声好气地 + verb.

idiom
(fixed expression) in a kindly mannergentlypolitely and patiently (when speaking)

Examples

  • 好声好气，。
    Tā hǎo shēng hǎo qì dì duì wǒ shuō huà, wǒ yì diǎn dōu bù jǐn zhāng le.
    He spoke to me kindly, and I wasn't nervous at all.
  • 好声好气，。
    Lǎo shī hǎo shēng hǎo qì dì pī píng le xué shēng, xué shēng hěn gǎn dòng.
    The teacher criticized the student gently, and the student was very touched.
  • ，。
    Yǒu shén me shì nǐ hǎo shēng hǎo qì shuō, bié fā huǒ.
    Whatever it is, say it nicely; don't get angry.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

好声good voice
好hǎogood声shēngvoice
偏正Modifier + head
好气good tone
好hǎogood气qìtone
偏正Modifier + head

好声 and 好气 pair good with voice and tone, giving a kindly, patient manner of speaking.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

好 joins 女 (woman) and 子 (child), understood as a woman with a child, linked to goodness or affection.

Open 好 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 聲; 声 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
耳耳ěrear
Sound part声符shēngfú
殸
殸qìng聲shēng
Same sound today

The traditional form 聲 pairs 耳 (ear) with 殸 as a sound part; the simplified 声 is a shorthand and does not show those original parts.

Open 声 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

好 joins 女 (woman) and 子 (child), understood as a woman with a child, linked to goodness or affection.

Open 好 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 氣; 气 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
米米mǐrice
Sound part声符shēngfú
气
气qì氣qì
Same sound today

The traditional form 氣 pairs 米 (rice) with 气, which supplies the sound; the simplified 气 is a later abbreviation.

Open 气 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.