hǎo 好 vs máng 忙 – good vs busy
This short guide contrasts hǎo 好 and máng 忙 with clear examples so you feel their different uses: hǎo 好 describes quality or condition while máng 忙 describes having a lot to do.
hǎo 好
hǎo 好 means "good" and can describe things, people, experiences, or conditions. It appears as an adjective, part of a set phrase, or in evaluations.
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máng 忙
máng 忙 means "busy" and describes someone who has many tasks or is occupied. It typically applies to people and can appear in short responses or longer descriptions.
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Examples
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🐉 今天的会议很好，大家都很满意。 | Jīntiān de huìyì hěn hǎo, dàjiā dōu hěn mǎnyì. | Today's meeting was very good, and everyone was very satisfied. | Positive outcome of a meeting. |
| 📧 抱歉，我现在很忙，稍后回复你的邮件。 | Bàoqiàn, wǒ xiànzài hěn máng, shāohòu huífù nǐ de yóujiàn. | Sorry, I am very busy right now, I will reply to your email later. | Polite notice of being busy. |
| ☕ 我们先喝杯咖啡，放松一下，今天感觉很好。 | Wǒmen xiān hē bēi kāfēi, fàngsōng yīxià, jīntiān gǎnjué hěn hǎo. | Let's have a cup of coffee first and relax; I feel very good today. | Suggestion to relax during a busy day. |
| 🗂️ 虽然工作忙，但进展很好。 | Suīrán gōngzuò máng, dàn jìnzhǎn hěn hǎo. | Although busy with work, the progress is very good. | Acknowledging busy schedule with positive progress. |
| 📅 这周忙得不可开交，没时间休息。 | Zhè zhōu máng de bùkě kāijiāo, méi shíjiān xiūxí. | This week is so busy that I have no time to rest. | Expressing extreme busyness. |
Summary
Use hǎo 好 to talk about quality or positive condition, and use máng 忙 to describe being occupied or having a lot to do.
Last updated: Tue Sep 16, 2025