好人

• Pinyin: hǎo rén
• Hanzi breakdown: 好 = 女 (woman) + 子 (child) — 'good'; 人 = pictograph of a standing person

Meaning

Good person; kind person. Someone who is morally upright and helpful.

A straightforward compound that can be used sincerely (genuinely praising someone) or in internet slang where 好人卡 (good-person card) refers to being politely rejected in dating with 'you're a good person, but...'

Examples

1. 他是一个好人，总是帮助别人。 He is a good person who always helps others.
2. 好人一定会有好报。 Good people will always be rewarded.
3. 你是一个好人，谢谢你的帮助。 You are a good person — thank you for your help.

Usage Guide

Context: praise, character description, moral judgement

Tone: warm, approving

Do Say

• 他真是个好人。(He is really a good person.)
• 做一个好人很重要。(Being a good person is important.)

Don't Say

• 对年轻人说'你是好人'要小心 — in modern internet culture, 发好人卡 (issuing a 'good person card') is slang for a gentle rejection in romance, so this phrase can feel awkward in dating contexts.

Origin & History

Simple compound of 好 (good) and 人 (person), meaning literally 'good person.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal