Chinese word

恰到好处

Pronunciation

Pinyinqià dào hǎo chù

Meaning

  • adjectivejust right

Example

这道菜的咸味恰到好处。zhè dào cài de xián wèi qià dào hǎo chù

The saltiness of this dish is just right.

Illustration for 恰到好处 (just right)

More examples

他在演讲中掌握了恰到好处的停顿，听众反应热烈。tā zài yán jiǎng zhōng zhǎng wò le qià dào hǎo chù de tíng dùn tīng zhòng fǎn yìng rè liè

He used perfectly timed pauses in his speech, and the audience reacted enthusiastically.

Core concept

A measure or moment reaches the exact point where it fits its purpose, with no excess or shortfall.

Common phrases

  • 恰到好处的音量qià dào hǎo chù de yīn liàng

    just-right volume

  • 恰到好处的停顿qià dào hǎo chù de tíng dùn

    just-right pause

  • 恰到好处的时机qià dào hǎo chù de shí jī

    just-right timing

Similar words

合适hé shì: Fitting someone or something well in a particular situation.
适当shì dàng: Suitable and sensible in method, extent, or degree.
恰当qià dàng: Well suited to the setting, occasion, or conduct involved.
正好zhèng hǎo: Coinciding exactly with the needed time or amount.

Definition in Chinese

指程度或时机恰好，符合需要，不多不少。zhǐ chéng dù huò shí jī qià hǎo fú hé xū yào bù duō bù shǎo

Word origin

恰到好处 (qiàdàohǎochù, "just right") is formed from 恰 (qià, "exactly") + 到 (dào, "reach") + 好 (hǎo, "good") + 处 (chù, "point"), presenting the image of reaching the exact good point.

Usage tips

  • Chinese uses this idiom to praise the quality of an arrangement, performance, or moment, so it can describe how something is done as well as what is chosen.

Other meanings

  • appropriateadjective

Opposites

  • 不适宜bú shì yínot suitableadjective

Related words

Word lists with this word