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恰好 (qià hǎo) — just right; exactly (of size, time, quantity, etc.); as it happens; by lucky coincidence

Definition

Both senses ('just right' and 'by coincidence') are usually handled by 正好; use 恰好 more in writing and for tighter emphasis on the lucky timing or exact fit. Compare 碰巧 (pure chance, no fit sense) and 巧 (often skillful, not just lucky).

adverb
just rightexactly (of size, time, quantity, etc.)as it happensby lucky coincidence

Examples

  • 恰好。
    Zhè jiàn yī fu nǐ chuān dà xiǎo qià hǎo.
    This piece of clothing fits you perfectly.
  • 恰好，。
    Wǒ qià hǎo yǒu nǐ yào de nà běn shū, jiè gěi nǐ ba.
    I happen to have the book you want — I'll lend it to you.
  • ，恰好。
    Wǒ men dào chē zhàn shí, huǒ chē qià hǎo jìn zhàn.
    When we arrived at the station, the train was just pulling in.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

恰qiàexactly
好hǎogood

恰好 joins 恰, exactly, with 好, good, to express just right.

Characters in this word

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
忄Written in full as心xīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
合
合hé恰qià
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

恰 has 忄 (a form of 心) on the left and 合 on the right, which is used for its sound.

Open 恰 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6

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