adj.
pleasant to hear; nice-sounding
好听
pleasant to hear; nice-sounding
Literally 'good to listen to' (好 good + 听 listen). Describes pleasant sounds, beautiful voices, or catchy music.
Common Usage & Traps
- 很好听 — very pleasant to hear
- 好听的声音 — a pleasant-sounding voice or sound
- 这首歌很好听 — this song sounds great
- 声音很好听 — the voice sounds nice
- 雨声很好听 — the sound of rain is lovely
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这道菜很好听这道菜很好吃好听 is for sound, not taste. Food uses 好吃.
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她很好听她很好看 or 她的声音很好听好听 is for sound, not looks. Appearance uses 好看.
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歌好吃歌很好听Songs are heard, not eaten. Use 好听 for music.
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好听声音好听的声音 or 声音很好听If 好听 comes before a thing, it needs 的.
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很好听声音很好听的声音 or 声音很好听很 + 好听 cannot jump in front of a thing without 的 and correct order.
Can you use 好听 for food or a pretty face?
No. 好听 is only for sounds, not taste or looks.
Use 好听 for music, voices, rain, and any sound you hear. Use 好吃 for food and 好看 for faces or clothes. If you say 这道菜很好听, you are literally saying the dish makes a pleasant sound.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 这道菜很好吃。 | 这道菜很好听。 |
| Looks | 她很好看。 | 她很好听。 |
| Sound | 这首歌很好听。 | 这首歌很好吃。 |
Can you say 歌好听 without 很?
Yes, but bare 好听 sounds like a quick verdict or comparison.
Adding 很 is the safe default for a plain compliment. Dropping 很 makes the sentence sound more like a live verdict or a contrast. It is not wrong, but it carries a different vibe.
“雨好听。” (The rain sounds lovely.)
“雨好听。” (The rain sounds lovely.)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Neutral praise | 这首歌很好听。 | 这首歌好听。 |
| Direct contrast | 这首歌好听，那首一般。 | 这首歌很好听，那首一般。 |
Where does 好听 go when you describe a voice?
Both work, but one labels a thing and the other makes a sentence.
Put 好听 before 的 and a thing to label its sound: 好听的声音. Put it after the thing to comment on it: 声音很好听. Without 的 before the thing, the phrase sounds broken.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Before a thing | 好听的声音 | 好听声音 |
| Full sentence | 声音很好听 | 很好听声音 |
| Contrast | 声音好听，但歌不好听 | 好听声音，但歌不好听 |
Appears in Stories 2 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
Before you read, close your eyes and imagine a rainy afternoon. This story uses simple HSK 1 words to show how rain can become a talking friend.
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雨 好听 。
This short poem plays with words that sound alike, comparing things that are good to watch, read, hear, or taste. Perfect for practicing basic adjectives like 好 and 真.
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好歌真 好听 ，真话不 好听 。
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