Introduction:
You learned 好 (hǎo) as one of your first Chinese words, meaning "good." However, its uses are vast and go far beyond a simple compliment. Let's explore some of its common functions at the HSK4 level.

1. The Basic Meaning: Good

• 你好 (Nǐ hǎo) - Hello.

• 很好 (Hěn hǎo) - Very good.

• 好吃 (hǎo chī) - Delicious (good to eat).

2. To Indicate Completion or Readiness
When used before a verb, 好 can act as a result complement meaning "ready" or "finished."

• 准备好 (zhǔnbèi hǎo) - to be prepared / ready

• 我准备好了。 (Wǒ zhǔnbèi hǎo le.) - I'm ready.

• 做好 (zuò hǎo) - to be done (with a task)

• 饭做好了。 (Fàn zuò hǎo le.) - The meal is ready/cooked.

3. To Express "Easy to" or "Good to"
The structure 好 + Verb means "easy to" do something.

• 好听 (hǎo tīng) - pleasant to hear (easy on the ears)

• 好看 (hǎo kàn) - good-looking, pleasant to watch

• 好玩 (hǎo wán) - fun (good to play with)

• 这个语法不好懂。 (Zhège yǔfǎ bù hǎo dǒng.) - This grammar is not easy to understand.

4. In Common Polite Phrases

• 好吃吗？ (Hǎo chī ma?) - Is it tasty?

• 你好点了吗？ (Nǐ hǎo diǎn le ma?) - Are you feeling better? (Literally: "Are you a little better?")

• 我好多了。 (Wǒ hǎo duō le.) - I'm much better.

Practice:
Choose the correct use of 好.

1. A: 你____了吗？我们可以走了。 (Nǐ __ le ma? Wǒmen kěyǐ zǒu le.) - Are you ready? We can go.
   B: 等一下，我还没有准备____。 (Děng yīxià, wǒ hái méiyǒu zhǔnbèi __.) - Wait a moment, I'm not ready yet.
   (Answer: 好, 好)