Expressing Purpose With 好 hǎo

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, the character 好 hǎo can be used to express purpose or intention when it’s placed before a verb or verb phrase, often translating to “in order to” or “so that.” This usage of 好 hǎo shows that an action is done for a specific reason or goal.

Structure

Action + 好 hǎo + Purpose

我wǒ把bǎ鬧鐘nàozhōng調tiáo早zǎo一點yìdiǎn， 好hǎo有yǒu時間shíjiān吃chī早餐zǎocān我wǒ把bǎ闹钟nàozhōng调tiáo早zǎo一点yìdiǎn， 好hǎo有yǒu时间shíjiān吃chī早餐zǎocān
I set my alarm earlier so I have time for breakfast.

他tā常cháng送sòng花huā給gěi她tā， 好hǎo讓ràng她tā開心kāixīn他tā常cháng送sòng花huā给gěi她tā， 好hǎo让ràng她tā开心kāixīn
He often gives her flowers to make her happy.

媽媽māma提前tíqián準備zhǔnbèi晚餐wǎncān， 好hǎo讓ràng我們wǒmen回家huíjiā就jiù能néng吃chī妈妈māma提前tíqián准备zhǔnbèi晚餐wǎncān， 好hǎo让ràng我们wǒmen回家huíjiā就jiù能néng吃chī
Mom prepares dinner early so we can eat as soon as we get home.

我wǒ每天měitiān都dōu騙piàn我wǒ學生xuéshēng說shuō他tā的de中文zhōngwén很hěn好hǎo， 好hǎo讓ràng他tā有yǒu信心xìnxīn我wǒ每天měitiān都dōu骗piàn我wǒ学生xuésheng说shuō他tā的de中文zhōngwén很hěn好hǎo， 好hǎo让ràng他tā有yǒu信心xìnxīn
I tell my student every day that his Chinese is great to give him confidence.

她tā每個měige禮拜lǐbài都dōu給gěi家裡jiālǐ打dǎ電話diànhuà， 好hǎo讓ràng父母fùmǔ安心ānxīn她tā每个měige礼拜lǐbài都dōu给gěi家里jiālǐ打dǎ电话diànhuà， 好hǎo让ràng父母fùmǔ安心ānxīn
She calls home every week to put her parents at ease.

政府zhèngfǔ決定juédìng調tiáo高gāo薪資xīnzī， 好hǎo刺激cìjī市場shìchǎng消費xiāofèi政府zhèngfǔ决定juédìng调tiáo高gāo工资gōngzī， 好hǎo刺激cìjī市场shìchǎng消费xiāofèi
The government decided to raise wages to boost market spending.

你nǐ得děi把bǎ中文zhōngwén學xué好hǎo， 好hǎo跟gēn你nǐ老闆lǎobǎn吵架chǎojià你nǐ得děi把bǎ中文zhōngwén学xué好hǎo， 好hǎo跟gēn你nǐ老板lǎobǎn吵架chǎojià
You need to learn Chinese well so you can argue with your boss!

中國Zhōngguó的de父母fùmǔ們men都dōu在zài公園gōngyuán裡lǐ忙碌mánglù， 好hǎo幫bāng自己zìjǐ的de孩子háizi找zhǎo另一半lìngyíbàn中国Zhōngguó的de父母fùmǔ们men都dōu在zài公园gōngyuán里lǐ忙碌mánglù， 好hǎo帮bāng自己zìjǐ的de孩子háizi找zhǎo另一半lìngyíbàn
Chinese parents are busy in the park, looking for a potential spouse for their children.

FYI
In China, it’s common for parents to gather in public parks to find potential spouses for their adult children. This reflects the strong cultural emphasis on family and marriage, with parents feeling responsible for helping their kids get married. These park meetups provide a space for parents to network, exchange information, and even arrange blind dates, as many adults are too busy with work to focus on their love lives. While this level of involvement might seem overbearing to some, it highlights the importance of family connections in Chinese society.