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好

hǎo

完 says you used it all up. 好 says it is ready to use

The picture The moment you straighten the last detail, step back and say 'there'. Not just finished, but fit to use. 好 is coming out right and ready to use; 完 is the amount running out — 系好了 and 系完了 say different things.

Endings and forms

Where the picture shows up in 好

  1. ready to eat

    饭做好了,快来吃。

    fàn zuò hǎo le, kuài lái chī

    Dinner's ready, come and eat.

    The rice cooker lid up, steam rising, the rice sitting there needing nothing but a bowl.

  2. booked and holding

    位子我已经订好了。

    wèizi wǒ yǐjīng dìng hǎo le

    I've already got the table booked.

    My name written into that time slot on the booking sheet, the table held for me.

  3. properly fastened

    安全带系好了吗?

    ānquándài jì hǎo le ma

    Is your seatbelt properly on?

    The tongue of the belt clicking into the buckle and not letting go when you tug it.

    系完了 says the fastening motion ended; 系好了 says the belt is actually holding.

  4. ready to leave

    准备好了就出发。

    zhǔnbèi hǎo le jiù chūfā

    Once you're set, we'll head off.

    Bags packed, shoes on, standing with your hand already on the door handle.

  5. fixed and usable

    我的电脑修好了。

    wǒ de diànnǎo xiū hǎo le

    My laptop's been repaired.

    The laptop's back panel closed again, the screen lit, the machine handed back into my hands.

All of it in one picture

好 is one moment: you straighten the last detail, take your hands off and say 'there'. Rice in that state is ready to eat; a table in that state is booked and held; a belt in that state is actually fastened. A person in that state is ready to leave, and a laptop in that state is usable again. So 好 does not say the action stopped — it says the result came out right and can now be used.

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