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| 友好 [2025/08/10 04:13] – created xiaoer | 友好 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== yǒuhǎo: 友好 - Friendly, Amicable ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** yǒuhǎo, youhao, 友好, friendly in Chinese, amicable, good relations, Chinese friendship, how to say friendly, user-friendly in Chinese, 友好关系, 友好城市 | |
| * **Summary:** Learn the essential Chinese word **yǒuhǎo (友好)**, meaning "friendly" or "amicable." This page provides a deep dive for beginners, explaining how `友好` is used to describe not just a person's warm demeanor, but also the positive state of relationships between friends, companies, and even countries ("sister cities" or `友好城市`). Understand its cultural significance in promoting harmony and see practical examples for daily conversation, business, and technology. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** yǒuhǎo | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Adjective, Noun | |
| * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 | |
| * **Concise Definition:** Describing a person, relationship, or atmosphere as friendly, amicable, and cordial. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** `友好` is the go-to word for "friendly" in Chinese. While it can describe a person's attitude, its core meaning is deeper than a simple smile. It describes a stable, positive, and often mutually beneficial **state of a relationship**. Think of it less as a fleeting emotion and more as the established quality of connection between people, groups, or nations. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **友 (yǒu):** This character means "friend" or "friendship." Pictographically, it's often depicted as two right hands (又) coming together, symbolizing cooperation, companionship, and mutual aid. | |
| * **好 (hǎo):** This character means "good," "well," or "fine." It's a combination of 女 (nǚ - woman) and 子 (zǐ - child). The image of a mother with her child is a powerful, universally understood symbol for something good and cherished. | |
| When combined, **友好 (yǒuhǎo)** literally means "friend-good." This paints a clear picture: the quality of being good like a friend, or a relationship that is in a good, friendly state. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| In Chinese culture, which places a high value on social harmony (和谐 - héxié) and collectivism, maintaining `友好` relationships is not just a personal preference but a social imperative. It's the foundation for trust, cooperation, and mutual benefit. | |
| A key difference from the Western concept of "friendly" is its emphasis on **relational state over individual disposition**. In English, you might call a stranger who smiles at you on the street "friendly." In Chinese, this would more likely be described as `礼貌 (lǐmào)` - "polite." `友好`, on the other hand, is typically reserved for a relationship with some level of established connection, however minor. For example, your relationship with your neighbours or colleagues should be `友好`. | |
| This concept scales up significantly. In diplomacy and business, declaring a relationship as `友好` is a formal, strategic act. It signals non-aggression, a willingness to cooperate, and a foundation of mutual respect. The term "sister city" in English is a direct translation of `友好城市 (yǒuhǎo chéngshì)`, highlighting this idea of a formal, friendly bond. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| `友好` is a versatile word used in many modern contexts. | |
| * **Describing People and Attitudes:** You can describe a person as `友好` if they are consistently warm, approachable, and easy to get along with. | |
| * `他是一个很友好的人。(Tā shì yí ge hěn yǒuhǎo de rén.)` - He is a very friendly person. | |
| * **Describing Relationships:** This is one of its most common uses. It describes the positive quality of the connection between people or groups. | |
| * `我们之间的关系很友好。(Wǒmen zhījiān de guānxì hěn yǒuhǎo.)` - The relationship between us is very friendly. | |
| * **Business and Diplomacy:** In formal settings, `友好` sets a professional and cooperative tone. | |
| * `友好合作 (yǒuhǎo hézuò)` - Friendly cooperation | |
| * `友好访问 (yǒuhǎo fǎngwèn)` - Friendly visit | |
| * `友好协商 (yǒuhǎo xiéshāng)` - Friendly negotiation/consultation | |
| * **Technology (User-Friendly):** The term has been adapted directly into tech jargon. | |
| * `用户友好 (yònghù yǒuhǎo)` - User-friendly | |
| * `这个软件的界面很友好。(Zhège ruǎnjiàn de jièmiàn hěn yǒuhǎo.)` - This software's interface is very user-friendly. | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| * **Example 1:** | |
| * 她对新同事总是很**友好**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā duì xīn tóngshì zǒngshì hěn **yǒuhǎo**. | |
| * English: She is always very friendly to new colleagues. | |
| * Analysis: Here, `友好` describes a person's consistent attitude and behavior towards others. | |
| * **Example 2:** | |
| * 这是一场**友好**的足球比赛，输赢不重要。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè shì yì chǎng **yǒuhǎo** de zúqiú bǐsài, shūyíng bù zhòngyào. | |
| * English: This is a friendly soccer match; winning or losing isn't important. | |
| * Analysis: `友好` is used to modify "match," indicating its purpose is not fierce competition but camaraderie. | |
| * **Example 3:** | |
| * 中国和加拿大建立了**友好**外交关系。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhōngguó hé Jiānádà jiànlì le **yǒuhǎo** wàijiāo guānxì. | |
| * English: China and Canada have established friendly diplomatic relations. | |
| * Analysis: This is a formal, diplomatic use of the term, signifying a peaceful and cooperative official relationship. | |
| * **Example 4:** | |
| * 会议在**友好**而坦率的气氛中进行。 | |
| * Pinyin: Huìyì zài **yǒuhǎo** ér tǎnshuài de qìfēn zhōng jìnxíng. | |
| * English: The meeting proceeded in a friendly and frank atmosphere. | |
| * Analysis: `友好` can describe the overall tone or atmosphere of an event, indicating a lack of tension. | |
| * **Example 5:** | |
| * 我们的邻居非常**友好**，经常帮助我们。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒmen de línjū fēicháng **yǒuhǎo**, jīngcháng bāngzhù wǒmen. | |
| * English: Our neighbors are very friendly and often help us. | |
| * Analysis: This describes the quality of a sustained, local community relationship. | |
| * **Example 6:** | |
| * 这是一个**友好**的提醒，请不要忘记明天开会。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè shì yí ge **yǒuhǎo** de tíxǐng, qǐng búyào wàngjì míngtiān kāihuì. | |
| * English: This is a friendly reminder: please don't forget the meeting tomorrow. | |
| * Analysis: Shows how the concept can be used to soften a command or instruction, making it feel less demanding. | |
| * **Example 7:** | |
| * 我们希望在**友好**协商的基础上解决这个问题。 | |
| * Pinyin: Wǒmen xīwàng zài **yǒuhǎo** xiéshāng de jīchǔ shàng jiějué zhège wèntí. | |
| * English: We hope to resolve this issue on the basis of friendly negotiation. | |
| * Analysis: A common phrase in business and legal contexts, emphasizing a desire to avoid conflict. | |
| * **Example 8:** | |
| * 这款手机的操作系统对老年人特别**友好**。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zhè kuǎn shǒujī de cāozuò xìtǒng duì lǎoniánrén tèbié **yǒuhǎo**. | |
| * English: This phone's operating system is especially user-friendly for the elderly. | |
| * Analysis: A great example of "user-friendly." The adjective is applied to a system's ease of use for a specific group. | |
| * **Example 9:** | |
| * 增进两国人民之间的**友好**和理解是非常重要的。 | |
| * Pinyin: Zēngjìn liǎng guó rénmín zhījiān de **yǒuhǎo** hé lǐjiě shì fēicháng zhòngyào de. | |
| * English: It is very important to promote the friendship (amity) and understanding between the people of the two countries. | |
| * Analysis: In this sentence, `友好` functions as a noun, meaning "amity" or "friendliness." | |
| * **Example 10:** | |
| * 他向我们露出了一个**友好**的微笑。 | |
| * Pinyin: Tā xiàng wǒmen lùchū le yí ge **yǒuhǎo** de wēixiào. | |
| * English: He gave us a friendly smile. | |
| * Analysis: This shows `友好` modifying a specific action (a smile), signaling goodwill and approachability. | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| * **`友好` (yǒuhǎo) vs. `热情` (rèqíng):** This is a common point of confusion. | |
| * `热情` means "enthusiastic," "warm," or "passionate." It describes an outward, often emotional display of warmth. A host greeting you excitedly at a party is `热情`. | |
| * `友好` is calmer and describes a more stable state of being. Your long-term relationship with a business partner should be `友好`. | |
| * **Mistake:** Describing a calm, polite but reserved person as `热情`. You should use `友好` or `礼貌` (lǐmào). | |
| * **`友好` (yǒuhǎo) vs. `朋友` (péngyou):** | |
| * `友好` is an adjective (friendly). `朋友` is a noun (friend). | |
| * **Incorrect:** 他是我的友好。(Tā shì wǒ de yǒuhǎo.) | |
| * **Correct:** 他是我的**朋友**。他很**友好**。(Tā shì wǒ de péngyou. Tā hěn yǒuhǎo.) - He is my friend. He is very friendly. | |
| * **Overuse in Trivial Situations:** While you can talk about a "friendly smile," using `友好` for a single, fleeting interaction with a stranger can sound a bit formal. Often, `有礼貌 (yǒu lǐmào - polite)` is a better fit for describing a cashier or someone who holds a door open for you. | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[朋友]] (péngyou) - Friend. The noun for the person in a relationship described as `友好`. | |
| * [[友谊]] (yǒuyì) - Friendship. The deep, abstract noun for the bond itself. `友谊` is stronger and more profound than the state of being `友好`. | |
| * [[热情]] (rèqíng) - Enthusiastic, warm. Contrasts with the calmer, more stable nature of `友好`. | |
| * [[和谐]] (héxié) - Harmony. The ultimate cultural goal that `友好` relationships help to build and maintain. | |
| * [[关系]] (guānxi) - Relationships, connections. `友好` is a positive attribute that a `关系` can have. | |
| * [[礼貌]] (lǐmào) - Polite, courtesy. A specific behavior that shows a `友好` intention. Politeness is an action; friendliness is a state. | |
| * [[亲切]] (qīnqiè) - Kind, cordial, warm. Very similar to `友好`, but often implies a closer, more affectionate, and personal feeling, like that from a grandparent. | |
| * [[善意]] (shànyì) - Goodwill, good intentions. The underlying motive behind a `友好` action or relationship. | |