Definition
好歹 (hǎo dǎi) has two distinct uses. As a noun it means 'good and bad, sense of right and wrong' — similar to 长短 (cháng duǎn) but without the meanings of length or accident. As an adverb it means 'anyway, at least' or 'finally', softer than 反正 (fǎnzhèng) and more concessive than 至少 (zhì shǎo).
noun
good and badsense of right and wrong
adverb
anywayat leastafter allfinally
Easily confused
- 好多hǎo duōlook-alikemany, a lot of
Examples
- 好歹，。Tā zhēn bù dǒng hǎo dǎi, bù tīng quàn.He really doesn't know what's good for him; he won't listen to advice.
- ，。Nǐ hǎo dǎi xiān chī diǎnr dōngxi, bié è zhe.You should at least eat something first; don't go hungry.
- ，好歹。Suīrán děng le hěn jiǔ, tā hǎo dǎi háishì lái le.Although we waited a long time, he finally came.
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