Chinese word

还可以

Pronunciation

Pinyinhái kě yǐ

Meaning

  • adjectivenot bad

Example

这道菜还可以，不太咸。zhè dào cài hái ké yǐ bú tài xián

This dish is not bad and not too salty.

Illustration for 还可以 (not bad)

More examples

这件外套看起来还可以，只是有点旧。zhè jiàn wài tào kàn qǐ lái hái ké yǐ zhǐ shì yóu diǎn jiù

This coat looks okay, but it is a little old.

Core concept

A small green light that marks something as acceptable and usable, but not a strong recommendation.

Common phrases

  • 看起来还可以kàn qǐ lái hái ké yǐ

    looks okay

  • 做得还可以zuò de hái ké yǐ

    done fairly well

  • 味道还可以wèi dào hái ké yǐ

    tastes okay

Similar words

不错bú cuò: Good enough to please, often matching or exceeding expectations.
还行hái xíng: Generally fine and free of major problems, with only mild approval.
可以ké yǐ: Good enough for the situation, without suggesting anything special.
一般yì bān: Average and unremarkable, with no clear strength or weakness.

Definition in Chinese

用于评价时表示不太好也不太差，倾向中性或略为肯定，常用于简短回应或随意评价。yòng yú píng jià shí biǎo shì bú tài hǎo yě bú tài chà qīng xiàng zhōng xìng huò lüè wèi kěn dìng cháng yòng yú jián duǎn huí yìng huò suí yì píng jià

Word origin

The phrase joins 还 (hái, "still") with 可以 (kěyǐ, "can") to suggest that a situation stays on the workable side, giving the whole expression its moderate tone.

Usage tips

  • As an answer to a casual question, a bare reply may sound reserved or uninterested, so adding what was good or weak makes the response more natural.

Other meanings

  • so-soadjective
  • decentadjective
  • passableadjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word