EXPRESSING SATISFACTION AND DISSATISFACTION

56

Expressing satisfaction and dissatisfaction

56.1Expressing satisfaction

56.1.1Expressions used to indicate satisfaction

The following expressions are used to express satisfaction. They are arranged here according to approximate intensity ranging from least to most enthusiastic.

mámk htht so-so

hái bù cuò	hái xíng	hái kéym
it’s okay	it’s okay	it’s okay
kéym
fine

bù cuò	xipngdpng hko
not bad	pretty good

hln hko	tmng hko
very good	very good
mknyì
satisfied, pleased
hln mknyì	hln xmhuan
very satisfied	like it very much

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Expressing satisfaction		56.1
fqicháng hko	hkojíle
excellent	excellent
Í 10.3, 11.2

56.1.2Situations in which satisfaction is expressed

Question	Response indicating satisfaction
!"#$%&'
!"#$%&'
Zhège cài de wèidao zlnmeyàng?	Mámk htht.
How is the flavor of this dish?	So-so.
!"#$%	!
!"#$%	!
Zhè bln sht ynu yìsr ma?	Hái bù cuò.
Is this book interesting?	It’s okay.
!"#$%&
!"#$%&
Nmmen zhù de lugukn hko ma?	Bù cuò.
How is the hotel that you are staying in?	Not bad.
!"#$%&'
!"#$%&'
Luxíngshè de fúwù zlnmeyàng?	Hái xíng.
How is that travel agency’s service?	It’s okay.
!"#$
!"#$
Zhège chq kéym ma?	Kéym.
Is this car okay?	It’s okay.
!"#$%	!
!"#$%	!
Nàge diànymng zlnmeyàng?	Xipngdpng hko.
How is that movie?	Rather good.
!"!#
!"!#
Zhè bln sht hko bù hko?	Hln hko.
How is this book?	Very good.
!"#$%&	!
!"#$%&	!
Zhège bówùgukn zlnmeyàng?	Hkojíle.
How is this art museum?	Extremely good.
!"#$%&'(	!
!"#$%&'(
Nín duì wnmen de fúwù mknyì ma?	Hln mknyì.
Are you satisfied with our service?	Very satisfied.

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EXPRESSING SATISFACTION AND DISSATISFACTION

56.2

56.2Expressing dissatisfaction

56.2.1Expressions used to indicate dissatisfaction

These expressions are arranged from mild to strong dissatisfaction.

bù tài hko not too good

bù hko	bù xíng
not good	not okay
bù hé gé
not up to standard
hln chà
very inferior
tài chà le
too inferior
!
fqicháng bù hko
extremely bad
fqicháng huài	huàijíle
extremely bad	extremely bad
!	!
wánquán bù xíng	wánquán bù hko
completely unacceptable	completely bad
zpotòu le
it’s a mess

56.2.2Situations in which dissatisfaction is expressed

Question	Response indicating dissatisfaction
!"#$%	!
!"#$%
Zhège yryuàn zlnmeyàng?	Bù tài hko.
How is this hospital?	Not too good.
!"#$%
!"#$%
Cpntrng de fàn zlnmeyàng?	Hln chà.
How is the food in the cafeteria?	Really inferior.

368

Expressing dissatisfaction		56.2
Question	Response indicating dissatisfaction
!"#$%&	!
!"#$%&
Tpmen de fúwù hái hko ba?	Tài chà le.
Is their service okay?	It’s really inferior.
!"#$%&	!"
!"#$%&
Zhèr de ksngqì zlnmeyàng?	Fqicháng bù hko.
How is the air here?	It is extremely bad.
!"#$%&	!
!"#$%&	!
Nàr de tipnqì zlnmeyàng?	Huàijíle.
How is the weather here?	Extremely bad.
!"#$%&	!
!"#$%&
Nàr de jipotsng zlnmeyàng?	Zpotòu le.
How is the transportation there?	It’s a mess./It’s terrible.

369