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相好 (xiāng hǎo) — to be close friends (with someone); to have an affair (with someone)

Definition

相好 (xiānghǎo) has two distinct senses: 'to be close friends' (mutual, affectionate) and 'to have an affair' (a euphemism for an extramarital romantic relationship). Context makes which sense is meant clear.

verb
to be close friends (with someone)to have an affair (with someone)

Examples

  • 相好。
    Tā men liǎ cóng xiǎo jiù xiāng hǎo.
    They have been close friends since childhood.
  • 相好。
    Tā hé nà ge nǚ rén xiāng hǎo duō nián le.
    He has been having an affair with that woman for years.
  • 相好，？
    Wǒ men xiāng hǎo yì chǎng, hé bì zhè yàng?
    We were once close — why be like this?

Origin

Characters in this word

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

In 相, 目 is an eye and 木 is a tree, showing an eye looking at a tree; this originally meant “to observe.”

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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.

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Appears in
Friends & SocialRomance & Marriage

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