Good is an adjective, so it describes a noun or pronoun. Use good to talk about the quality of a person, thing, or situation. It answers “What kind?” or “How is it?” when the word being described is a noun.

Well is usually an adverb, so it describes a verb and tells how an action happens. Use well to talk about performance or the way something is done. It often answers “How?” about an action.

After linking verbs, English typically uses an adjective, not an adverb. With verbs like be, seem, look, feel, sound, taste, and smell, choose good when you are describing the subject. Choose well only when you truly mean health or when well is functioning as an adverb in a different structure.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Use good after linking verbs to describe the subject	✅ 在连系动词后使用 good 来描述主语	The soup tastes good.	🟦 这汤尝起来很好。
Use well after linking verbs when you mean health	✅ 在连系动词后使用 well 当你指的是健康	I feel well today.	🟦 我今天感觉很好。
Use well as an adverb to describe an action	✅ 将 well 作为副词来描述一个动作	She sings well.	🟦 她唱得很好。

Well can be an adjective meaning “in good health,” especially after feel, be, and get. Good does not mean “healthy” in standard usage, so “I am good” usually means your situation is fine or you are satisfied, not that your health is good. When talking about health, well is the clearer and more natural choice.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Use well to mean healthy	✅ 用 well 表示健康	He is well now.	🟦 他现在很健康。
Use good to mean fine or satisfactory	✅ 用 good 表示良好或令人满意	I’m good, thanks.	🟦 我很好，谢谢。
If you mean health, avoid I’m good as the only clue	✅ 如果你指健康，避免仅用我很好作为唯一线索	I’m good, but I’m not feeling well.	🟦 我很好，但我感觉不太舒服。

Choose good or well based on what the question is asking you to describe. If the question is about a noun or a person’s condition, good may fit, and well fits when the condition is health. If the question is about an action, well is usually correct because it describes how the action happens.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
How was the movie	❓ 那部电影怎么样	It was good.	🟦 它很好。
How did you play	❓ 你玩得怎么样	I played well.	🟦 我玩得很好。
How are you feeling	❓ 你感觉怎么样	I feel well.	🟦 我感觉很好。

Some everyday phrases strongly prefer one word because of grammar and convention. Learning these patterns helps you sound natural and avoid hesitation. Focus on what is being described: a thing or state uses good, and an action uses well.

Word/Phrase	🇨🇳 中文 单词/短语	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 定义	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
good idea	🟩 good idea	high quality idea	🟩 高质量的主意	That’s a good idea.	🟦 那是一个好主意。
good job	🟩 good job	praise for work done	🟩 对工作完成的表扬	Good job on the report.	🟦 报告做得很好。
do well	🟩 do well	perform successfully	🟩 更有效地完成某动作	She did well on the test.	🟦 她现在唱得更好。
work well	🟩 work well	function effectively	🟩 能有效地运作	The plan works well.	🟦 这个计划运作良好。

With look and feel, you are often describing the subject, so good is common: “You look good,” “This feels good.” But if you mean health, well is possible with feel: “I feel well.” With look, well is uncommon for health in modern conversation and can sound formal or old-fashioned.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Use good with look for appearance	✅ 用 good 描述外观，搭配 look	You look good today.	🟦 你今天看起来很好。
Use good with feel for comfort or satisfaction	✅ 用 good 描述舒适或满意，搭配 feel	This chair feels good.	🟦 这个椅子感觉很好。
Use well with feel for health	✅ 用 well 描述健康，搭配 feel	I don’t feel well.	🟦 我感觉不舒服。

Good and well also have related forms that keep the same grammar pattern. Use better and best for comparisons with good or well depending on whether you need an adjective or an adverb. Well can also become the adjective better when it means health: “I’m better” is common for recovering.

Word/Phrase	🇨🇳 中文 单词/短语	Definition	🇨🇳 中文 定义	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
better	🟩 better	higher quality or improved performance	🟩 更高的质量或改进的表现	This one is better.	🟦 这个更好了。
better	🟩 better	doing an action more effectively	🟩 更有效地完成某动作	She sings better now.	🟦 她现在唱得更好了。
best	🟩 best	highest quality	🟩 最高质量	That was the best part.	🟦 那是最棒的部分。
best	🟩 best	most effectively	🟩 最有效地	He runs best in the morning.	🟦 他在早晨跑得最好。

In casual English, “I’m good” is a very common response meaning “I’m fine” or “No, thank you,” and most listeners accept it. In careful or formal contexts, “I’m well” is preferred when you are specifically talking about health. When you want to avoid ambiguity, add a clearer phrase like “I’m doing well” or “I’m feeling well.”

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Casual: I’m good can mean I’m fine	✅ 休闲用法：I’m good 可以表示我很好	I’m good, thanks.	🟦 我很好，谢谢。
Formal or health-focused: prefer well	✅ 正式或健康导向：偏好 well	I’m well, thank you.	🟦 我很好，谢谢。
Clear performance: use doing well	✅ 清楚地体现表现：使用 doing well	I’m doing well at work.	🟦 我在工作中做得很好。

To choose quickly, decide what word you are describing. If you describe a noun or the subject after a linking verb, use good. If you describe an action, use well. If you describe health, well is the standard choice.

Rule	🇨🇳 中文 规则	Example	🇨🇳 中文 示例
Describe a thing or person as a quality	🧭 描述事物或人具备某种质量	It’s good.	🟦 它很好。
Describe how an action happens	🧭 描述动作发生的方式	It went well.	🟦 它进行得很好。
Describe health	🧭 描述健康	I’m not well.	🟦 我感觉不太好。