When combined, 好笑 (hǎoxiào) literally means “good to laugh at” or “easy to laugh at,” which perfectly captures the idea of something being funny or amusing.
Humor in China can often be more situational, based on wordplay, or rooted in shared cultural knowledge. 好笑 (hǎoxiào) is the everyday tool for expressing this amusement. A key cultural difference from the English “funny” is the frequent and clear-cut sarcastic use of 好笑. While English speakers use a sarcastic tone with “funny” or “hilarious,” the Chinese use of 好笑 to mean “ridiculous” or “absurd” is arguably more common and direct. For example, if someone proposes a completely unworkable plan, a colleague might mutter, “太好笑了 (tài hǎoxiào le),” meaning “That's just laughable,” expressing disbelief and criticism. This reflects a communication style that can be indirect yet pointed. Understanding when 好笑 is a compliment and when it's a critique is a crucial social skill.
好笑 is an incredibly versatile and common word used across all informal and semi-formal situations.