好比

• Pinyin: hǎo bǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 好 = 女 (woman) + 子 (child) — good; 比 = two people side by side — compare

Meaning

To be just like; to be comparable to. Used to introduce a vivid comparison or analogy.

Functions like 'just as' or 'it's as if' in English. Introduces an illustrative analogy to clarify an abstract idea. Common in persuasive speech, essays, and teaching.

Examples

1. 学语言好比建房子，基础打好了才能往上盖。 Learning a language is like building a house: only with a solid foundation can you build upward.
2. 他在球队中的作用好比一台发动机，驱动着整体运转。 His role on the team is like an engine, driving the whole operation.
3. 人生好比一段旅程，重要的不是终点而是沿途的风景。 Life is like a journey—the important thing isn’t the destination, but the scenery along the way.

Usage Guide

Context: analogy, explanation, persuasion, teaching

Tone: illustrative

Do Say

• 团队合作好比一台机器，每个零件都不可缺少。(Teamwork is like a machine — every component is indispensable.)
• 这次谈判好比下棋，每一步都需要深思熟虑。(This negotiation is like a game of chess — every move requires careful thought.)

Don't Say

• 好比 used for direct equating: 他好比我的老师 (他是我老师一样的存在 sounds more natural for personal comparisons)

Origin & History

好 (good; it is good/just) + 比 (compare; like)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal