Chinese word

还行

Pronunciation

Pinyinhái xíng

Meaning

  • adjectiveokay

Example

考试怎么样？我还行。kǎo shì zěn me yàng wǒ hái xíng

How was the exam? I did okay.

Illustration for 还行 (okay)

More examples

这部电影还行，值得一看。zhè bù diàn yǐng hái xíng zhí de yí kàn

This movie is okay and worth watching.

Core concept

A result clears the bar and can be handled, while leaving room for improvement.

Common phrases

  • 还行吧hái xíng ba

    so-so

  • 还行啊hái xíng a

    so-so

  • 还行的hái xíng de

    so-so

Similar words

还不错hái bú cuò: Fairly good and satisfying, though not remarkable.
一般yì bān: Neither especially good nor especially bad, but simply ordinary.
可以ké yǐ: Sufficiently suitable and acceptable for the situation.
凑合còu hé: Only barely adequate, but able to get through the situation.

Definition in Chinese

用来表示说话人或事物的状态尚可、能应付，不算差也不突出。yòng lái biǎo shì shuō huà rén huò shì wù de zhuàng tài shàng kě néng yìng fù bú suàn chà yě bù tū chū

Word origin

还 (hái, "still") combines with 行 (xíng, "to work or be acceptable") in this colloquial phrase to express adequacy without strong praise.

Usage tips

  • After a question about an experience, this wording can soften approval and keep the speaker from sounding overly enthusiastic.

Other meanings

  • not badadjective
  • so-soadjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word