Menu
While “刚好,” “恰好,” and “正好” are often interchangeable and can be used to express situations that fit or happen just right, they still have slight differences.
As an adverb, “刚好” means exactly the right amount, time, space, etc. It is usually used in spoken Chinese.
“刚好” can be used as an adverbial modifier preceding a verb phrase or an adjective.
Subject + 刚好 + Verb phrase / Adjective
e.g.
我进门的时候她刚好出来，我们就聊了几句。(Wǒ jìnmén de shíhòu tā gānghǎo chūlái, wǒmen jiù liáo le jǐ jù.) When I was entering, she just happened to be leaving, so we chatted for a bit.
妈妈正要打电话给我的时候，我刚好到家。(Māma zhèng yào dǎ diànhuà gěi wǒ de shíhòu, wǒ gānghǎo dàojiā.) Just as my mom was about to call me, I happened to get home.
这个会议的人数刚好够，不能再加了。(Zhège huìyì de rénshù gānghǎo gòu, bùnéng zài jiā le.) The number of people for this meeting is just right; we can’t add any more.
这个房间放婴儿床刚好合适。(Zhège fángjiān fàng yīng’ér chuáng gānghǎo héshì.) This room is just right for a baby crib.
“刚好” can also be used with a numeral phrase to indicate the amount is right to the point, neither more or less.
Subject + 刚好 + Verb + Numeral phrase
e.g.
这个班刚好是三十个人，不多不少。(Zhège bān gānghǎo shì sānshí gè rén, bù duō bù shǎo.) This class has just thirty people, no more, no less.
这个袋子刚好装十个苹果。(Zhège dàizi gānghǎo zhuāng shí gè píngguǒ.) This bag just fits ten apples.
我到公司的时候刚好是十点。(Wǒ dào gōngsī de shíhòu gānghǎo shì shídiǎn.) I arrived at the company just at ten o’clock.
你想看电影？我这儿刚好有两张票。我们一起吧！(Nǐ xiǎng kàn diànyǐng? Wǒ zhè’er gānghǎo yǒu liǎng zhāng piào. Wǒmen yīqǐ ba!) Want to watch a movie? I just happen to have two tickets. Let’s go together!
“刚好” can be placed before the subject.
刚好 + Subject + ……
e.g.
正要找你，刚好你来了。(Zhèng yào zhǎo nǐ, gānghǎo nǐ lái le.) I was just about to look for you, and you happened to come.
事情发生的时候，刚好我看到了全部过程。(Shìqíng fāshēng de shíhòu, gānghǎo wǒ kàn dào le quánbù guòchéng.) Just as the incident occurred, I happened to see the whole process.
刚好他们想买些便宜的电脑，你们聊聊吧。(Gānghǎo tāmen xiǎng mǎi xiē piányi de diànnǎo, nǐmen liáoliao ba.) They just happen to want to buy some cheap computers, have a chat with them.
As an adverb, “恰好” indicates that a certain aspect of something unintentionally meets the standard or is suitable. This word is usually used in written Chinese.
Subject + 恰好 + Verb phrase / Adjective
e.g.
你明天来上海出差？我恰好回上海了，我们见面吧！(Nǐ míngtiān lái Shànghǎi chūchāi? Wǒ qiàhǎo huí Shànghǎi le, wǒmen jiànmiàn ba!) You’re coming to Shanghai on a business trip tomorrow? I just happen to be back in Shanghai, let’s meet up!
还好你来了，我们恰好缺一个男性角色，你来演吧。(Háihǎo nǐ lái le, wǒmen qiàhǎo quē yī gè nánxìng juésè, nǐ lái yǎn ba.) Good that you’ve come, we just happen to need a male role, you play it.
这条裙子的长短恰好合适。(Zhè tiáo qúnzi de chángduǎn qiàhǎo héshì.) The length of this skirt is just right.
我俩恰好顺路，一起打车回家吧。(Wǒ liǎ qiàhǎo shùnlù, yīqǐ dǎ chē huí jiā ba.) We just happen to be going the same way, let’s share a cab home.
Subject + 恰好 (+ Verb) + Numeral phrase
e.g.
这辆车能坐七个人，我们恰好有七个人。(Zhè liàng chē néng zuò qī gè rén, wǒmen qiàhǎo yǒu qī gè rén.) This car can fit seven people, and we just happen to have seven people.
我的体重恰好是五十公斤，不多不少。(Wǒ de tǐzhòng qiàhǎo shì wǔshí gōngjīn, bù duō bù shǎo.) My weight is exactly fifty kilograms, neither more nor less.
新建的大楼恰好有100层。(Xīnjiàn de dàlóu qiàhǎo yǒu yībǎi céng.) The newly built building just happens to have 100 floors.
两个人睡一个房间，十个人恰好睡五个房间。(Liǎng gè rén shuì yī gè fángjiān, shí gè rén qiàhǎo shuì wǔ gè fángjiān.) Two people per room, ten people just fit in five rooms.
恰好 + Subject + Verb phrase / Adjective
We can also put “恰好” right before the subject.
e.g.
你要走了吗？恰好他们也准备走，一起吧。(Nǐ yào zǒu le ma? Qiàhǎo tāmen yě zhǔnbèi zǒu, yīqǐ ba.) Are you leaving? They are just about to leave too, go together.
你来得真巧，恰好我今天在家。(Nǐ lái de zhēn qiǎo, qiàhǎo wǒ jīntiān zài jiā.) Your timing is perfect, I just happen to be at home today.
好大的雨啊！恰好我开车来上班的，你需要搭便车吗？(Hǎo dà de yǔ a! Qiàhǎo wǒ kāichē lái shàngbān de, nǐ xūyào dā biànchē ma?) What heavy rain! I just happen to have driven to work, do you need a ride?
‘正好’ suggests a coincidence in terms of time, condition, and circumstances, and is often unexpected. It is important to note that the events occurring before and after are related.
As an adverb
It’s often used as an adverbial modifier before a verbal phrase, adjective phrase, or numeral phrase. In this case, it serves a function similar to ‘恰好.’
Subject + 正好 + Verb phrase
e.g.
她在公司门口喝咖啡，我正好也在公司门口喝咖啡。(Tā zài gōngsī ménkǒu hē kāfēi, wǒ zhènghǎo yě zài gōngsī ménkǒu hē kāfēi.) She was drinking coffee at the company entrance, and I just happened to be drinking coffee there too.
你想吃的那种巧克力，我正好买了一点，你尝尝吧！(Nǐ xiǎng chī de nà zhǒng qiǎokèlì, wǒ zhènghǎo mǎi le yīdiǎn, nǐ chángchang ba!) The chocolate you wanted to eat, I just happened to buy some, try it!
我一进门正好看到他在偷东西。(Wǒ yī jìn mén zhènghǎo kàn dào tā zài tōu dōngxi.) As soon as I entered, I just happened to see him stealing.
Subject + 正好 + Adjective phrase
e.g.
我们的生肖正好相同。(Wǒmen de shēngxiào zhènghǎo xiāngtóng.) Our Chinese zodiac signs are exactly the same.
这件衣服的大小正好合适。(Zhè jiàn yīfu de dàxiǎo zhènghǎo héshì.) The size of this clothing is just right.
我和老板的想法正好相反，老板会不会生气？(Wǒ hé lǎobǎn de xiǎngfǎ zhènghǎo xiāngfǎn, lǎobǎn huì bù huì shēngqì?) My ideas are exactly opposite to those of the boss; will the boss be angry?
Subject + 正好 + Numeral phrase
e.g.
我今年正好二十岁。(Wǒ jīnnián zhènghǎo èrshí suì.) I am exactly twenty years old this year.
早上我到公司的时候正好九点，没迟到。(Zǎoshang wǒ dào gōngsī de shíhòu zhènghǎo jiǔ diǎn, méi chídào.) I arrived at the company exactly at nine in the morning, not late.
一米二以下不用买公园的门票，他正好一米二，怎么办？(Yī mǐ èr yǐxià bùyòng mǎi gōngyuán de ménpiào, tā zhènghǎo yī mǐ èr, zěnme bàn?) Children under 1.2 meters don’t need to buy a ticket for the park, he is exactly 1.2 meters, what to do?
As an adjective
As an adjective, “正好”can also function as a predicate or complement in a sentence. But note that there is no negation form of it, and “很” cannot be used with it too.
很 + 正好
不 / 没 + 正好
e.g.
你来得正好，我想跟你讨论一个问题。(Nǐ lái de zhènghǎo, wǒ xiǎng gēn nǐ tǎolùn yī gè wèntí.) You came at the right time, I want to discuss an issue with you.
这幅画挂这儿正好。(Zhè fú huà guà zhèr zhènghǎo.) This painting is just right hanging here.
这个位置放书柜正好。(Zhè ge wèizhì fàng shūguì zhènghǎo.) This spot is just right for a bookcase.
“正好” can also be used on its own.
e.g.
A: 这双鞋大小合适吗？(A: Zhè shuāng xié dàxiǎo héshì ma?) Are these shoes the right size?
B: 正好。(Zhènghǎo.) Perfectly fit.
A: 八个小时你能睡饱吗？(Bā gè xiǎoshí nǐ néng shuì bǎo ma?) Can you get enough sleep in eight hours?
B：正好。(Zhènghǎo.) Just right.
Mark Complete
With a premium membership, you can access all 7 questions about “刚好(gānghǎo) vs 恰好(qiàhǎo) vs 正好(zhènghǎo)“, as well as online exercises for all grammar points.
