“May as well” in Chinese – 也好 yěhǎo

Grammar Point:
The Chinese phrase 也好 yěhǎo can mean “may as well” or “it’s fine either way”, depending on the context. 

Structure

Option 1 + 也好 yěhǎo，Option 2 + 也好 yěhǎo

This usage indicates that the speaker is indifferent or finds either option acceptable. It’s often used in casual, conversational contexts.

你nǐ去qù也好yěhǎo， 不bú去qù也好yěhǎo， 隨便suíbiàn你nǐ你nǐ去qù也好yěhǎo， 不bú去qù也好yěhǎo， 随便suíbiàn你nǐ
You may as well go or not go, it’s up to you.

這麼zhème做zuò也好yěhǎo， 不bú這麼zhème做zuò也好yěhǎo， 結果jiéguǒ都dōu一樣yíyàng这么zhème做zuò也好yěhǎo， 不bú这么zhèyāo做zuò也好yěhǎo， 结果jiéguǒ都dōu一样yíyàng
Doing it this way or not doing it this way, the result is the same.

你nǐ看kàn你nǐ是shì要yào寫xiě中文字zhōngwénzì也好yěhǎo， 做zuò語法yǔfǎ練習liànxí也好yěhǎo， 只要zhǐyào持續chíxù一定yídìng會huì進步jìnbù你nǐ看kàn你nǐ是shì要yào写xiě中文字zhōngwénzì也好yěhǎo， 做zuò语法yǔfǎ练习liànxí也好yěhǎo， 只要zhǐyào持续chíxù一定yídìng会huì进步jìnbù
Whether you choose to write Chinese characters or do grammar practice, as long as you keep going, you’ll improve.

你nǐ同意tóngyì也好yěhǎo， 不bù同意tóngyì也好yěhǎo， 我wǒ已經yǐjīng做zuò了le決定juédìng你nǐ同意tóngyì也好yěhǎo， 不bù同意tóngyì也好yěhǎo， 我wǒ已经yǐjīng做zuò了le决定juédìng
Whether you agree or disagree, I’ve already made my decision.

吃chī牛肉麵niúròumiàn也好yěhǎo， 吃chī炒飯chǎofàn也好yěhǎo， 快點kuàidiǎn決定juédìng， 我wǒ快kuài餓死èsǐ了le！ 吃chī牛肉面niúròumiàn也好yěhǎo， 吃chī炒饭chǎofàn也好yěhǎo， 快点kuàidiǎn决定juédìng， 我wǒ快kuài饿死èsǐ了le！
Whether it’s beef noodles or fried rice, decide quickly—I’m starving!

Fact + 也好 yěhǎo

This standalone expression shows acceptance or finding something positive in a less-than-ideal situation. It reflects a flexible or resigned attitude, where the speaker is okay with the result.

他tā說shuō不來bùlái也好yěhǎo， 免得miǎndé麻煩máfán他tā说shuō不来bùlái也好yěhǎo， 免得miǎndé麻烦máfán
He said he won’t come, which is fine, to avoid trouble.

這樣zhèyàng也好yěhǎo， 我wǒ就jiù不bù需要xūyào想xiǎng理由lǐyóu跟gēn他tā分手fēnshǒu了le这样zhèyàng也好yěhǎo， 我wǒ就jiù不bù需要xūyào想xiǎng理由lǐyóu跟gēn他tā分手fēnshǒu了le
This works too; that way, I don’t have to think of a reason to break up with him.

取消qǔxiāo了le也好yěhǎo， 這樣zhèyàng我wǒ就jiù不用bùyòng趕gǎn著zhe出門chūmén了le取消qǔxiāo了le也好yěhǎo， 这样zhèyàng我wǒ就jiù不用bùyòng赶gǎn着zhe出门chūmén了le
It’s fine if it’s canceled; that way, I won’t have to hurry to leave.

輸光shūguāng了le也好yěhǎo， 你nǐ就jiù會huì記得jìdé賭博dǔbó的de風險fēngxiǎn输光shūguāng了le也好yěhǎo， 你nǐ就jiù会huì记得jìdé赌博dǔbó的de风险fēngxiǎn
Losing everything is fine too; at least you’ll remember the risks of gambling.

Soft Suggestion + 也好 yěhǎo

This standalone expression highlight it as a good option. This type of sentence often appears in discussions about future planning or when suggesting actions that could lead to long-term benefits.

多duō學xué一yì門mén語言yǔyán課kè也好yěhǎo， 將來jiānglái好hǎo找zhǎo工作gōngzuò多duō学xué一yì门mén语言yǔyán课kè也好yěhǎo， 将来jiānglái好hǎo找zhǎo工作gōngzuò
Learning another language is good too; it will help you find a job in the future.

讓ràng他tā親自qīnzì在zài現場xiànchǎng試一試shìyíshì也好yěhǎo， 有yǒu個ge經驗jīngyàn让ràng他tā亲自qīnzì在zài现场xiànchǎng试一试shìyíshì也好yěhǎo， 有yǒu个ge经验jīngyàn
Letting him try it out in person is good too; it gives him some experience.

學xué做zuò些xiē簡單jiǎndān的de菜cài也好yěhǎo， 將來jiānglái出國chūguó還hái可以kěyǐ自理zìlǐ学xué做zuò些xiē简单jiǎndān的de菜cài也好yěhǎo， 将来jiānglái出国chūguó还hái可以kěyǐ自理zìlǐ
Learning to cook simple dishes is good too; it’ll help you take care of yourself when you go abroad.

多duō認識rènshì一些yìxiē人rén也好yěhǎo， 出chū社會shèhuì後hòu人脈rénmài比bǐ什麼shénme都dōu重要zhòngyào多duō认识rènshi一些yìxiē人rén也好yěhǎo， 出chū社会shèhuì后hòu人脉rénmài比bǐ什么shénme都dōu重要zhòngyào
Meeting more people is good too; after entering the workforce, connections are more important than anything.