Resultative Complement: 好 (hǎo) - Completed Well

This pattern attaches 好 directly to the back of a verb. It functions like a suffix that modifies the verb's meaning. When you add 好, you change the focus. You move from the process to the successful result. It often appears with 了 to show a completed change. Without 好, the verb just describes an action. With 好, the verb describes a completed mission. It is a very common way to sound more natural. Native speakers use this constantly in daily life. It adds a layer of completion that English often misses.

1. 1Using this grammar is quite straightforward and logical.
2. 2Start with your main action verb like 准备 or 买.
3. 3Add the resultative complement 好 immediately after the verb.
4. 4Add the particle 了 if the action is already finished.
5. 5For negative sentences, put 没 or 没有 before the verb.
6. 6In negative forms, you usually drop the 了 at the end.
7. 7Example: 准备 (to prepare) + 好 + 了 = 准备好了 (ready).
8. 8Negative: 没 + 准备 + 好 = 没准备好 (not ready yet).

Use this when the result involves being ready for something. It is perfect for preparation scenarios like getting dressed. Use it when you finish a task to a high standard. It is common when making decisions or reaching an agreement. Imagine you are at a restaurant with friends. Once everyone decides what to eat, you say 点好了. This means the ordering process is successfully finished. You are now ready for the food to arrive. Use it when you buy tickets for a movie. Use it when you have finished writing a difficult email. It implies that the task is now off your plate. You can relax because the job was done well.

Do not use 好 if the result is negative. If you finished your homework but it is full of errors, do not use 好. If you finished a meal but hated it, 吃好 might sound strange. Do not use it for actions that have no "ready" state. For example, you wouldn't usually say 看好 for just finishing a movie. That would imply you watched it "well" or "satisfactorily." Avoid using it when you simply want to say an action stopped. If a rainstorm stops, you do not use 好. It only applies to intentional actions with a positive goal. It is not a generic marker for the end of time.

Many people confuse 好 with the simple completion marker 完. This is the most common trap for intermediate learners. Another mistake is forgetting the 没 in negative sentences. Some try to use 不 to negate it, which is wrong. 不 implies a habit or a future refusal. 没 is for the result of a specific event. Don't put other words between the verb and 好. They must stay glued together like best friends. Also, remember that 好 does not always mean "good" here. It is about the state of completion, not just quality. Yes, even advanced students mess this up during fast conversations. Just think of it as a grammar traffic light turning green.

The biggest rival to 好 is the complement 完. 完 simply means the action is finished or over. It is neutral and does not care about quality. 做完 means you finished the work, maybe even poorly. 做好 means you finished it and it is ready to go. Think of 完 as the "stop" button on a video. Think of 好 as the "save and exit" button. Another similar pattern is 到. 到 implies you successfully reached a goal or found something. 买到 means you successfully bought something that was hard to find. 买好 means you have finished the purchase and are prepared.