好你个X for Direct Reprimand or Surprise in Chinese
好你个X
好你个X is a spoken exclamatory construction directed at a present second-person target. X can be an evaluative noun phrase, a colored label, or a proper name. It commonly signals reprimand, anger, dissatisfaction, surprise, or teasing affection. Its stance is constructional, so 好 does not simply mean good here.
Published August 7, 2026
Reviewed August 7, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
好 + 你 + 个 + Evaluative Noun Phrase/Name
Read the structure
好你个X is a spoken exclamatory construction directed at a present second-person target. X can be an evaluative noun phrase, a colored label, or a proper name. It commonly signals reprimand, anger, dissatisfaction, surprise, or teasing affection. Its stance is constructional, so 好 does not simply mean good here. Keep the model 好 + 你 + 个 + Evaluative Noun Phrase/Name visible while you compare each sentence.
好你个调皮孩子！
You mischievous child!
Choose the right context
Reprimand or challenge someone directly with an evaluative label. Express strong surprise at the addressee's behavior. Use a proper name or colored noun phrase for a present second-person target.
好你个老王，原来是你！
Well, Old Wang, so it was you!
Respect the boundary
Do not replace second-person 你 with 我 or 他 in this construction. Do not move 个 after the noun phrase. Do not assume the construction always expresses literal praise.
好我个调皮孩子！
(Good me classifier mischievous child!)
Repair the pattern
The second-person slot is replaced: The construction addresses a second-person target and fixes 你 in this slot. 个 follows the noun phrase: 个 directly follows 你 and introduces the evaluative noun phrase X.
好你个调皮孩子！
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
好你个调皮孩子！
You mischievous child!
好
好
This part occupies the 好 position in the model pattern.
你
你
This part occupies the 你 position in the model pattern.
个
个
This part occupies the 个 position in the model pattern.
调皮
Evaluative Noun Phrase/Name
This part occupies the Evaluative Noun Phrase/Name position in the model pattern.
孩子
好
This part occupies the 好 position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
好你个调皮孩子！
You mischievous child!
好你个老王，原来是你！
Well, Old Wang, so it was you!
好你个小偷儿！
You thief!
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Reprimand or challenge someone directly with an evaluative label.
- Express strong surprise at the addressee's behavior.
- Use a proper name or colored noun phrase for a present second-person target.
Do not use it when
- Do not replace second-person 你 with 我 or 他 in this construction.
- Do not move 个 after the noun phrase.
- Do not assume the construction always expresses literal praise.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
好我个调皮孩子！
好你个调皮孩子！
The second-person slot is replaced
The construction addresses a second-person target and fixes 你 in this slot.
好你调皮孩子个！
好你个调皮孩子！
个 follows the noun phrase
个 directly follows 你 and introduces the evaluative noun phrase X.
好我个调皮孩子！
The construction addresses a second-person target and fixes 你 in this slot.
好你调皮孩子个！
个 directly follows 你 and introduces the evaluative noun phrase X.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 好你个X.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 好你个X. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
好你个X for Direct Reprimand or Surprise Questions
Does 好 mean good in this sentence?
Not literally. The whole construction presents the speaker's attitude, often through irony or a forceful evaluative cue.
Is 好你个X always hostile?
No. Reprimand and dissatisfaction are common, but context and relationship can yield surprise, mock complaint, or teasing affection.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 6 item 【六60】, PDF p. 242 (printed p. 236)
Places 好你个X at Level 6 and gives thief, liar, and named-addressee examples.
Official source现代汉语构式数据库
北京大学中国语言学研究中心 · Peking University · 2021
Locator: Construction detail 137, 好+你+个+np, basic, syntax, pragmatics, and references
Documents the fixed second-person form, independent exclamatory use, evaluative noun/name slot, spoken register, and emotions including dissatisfaction, anger, surprise, and unexpectedness.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Easy to confuse
看 / 瞧你那（X）样看 / 瞧你那（X）样 for a Critical Reaction
Both directly criticize an addressee, but only 好你个X assigns an evaluative label.
Compare
太…了 / 真太…了 and 真 Exclamations
General 太真 exclamations evaluate a situation without the fixed second-person reprimand frame.
Compare
别提（有）多X了别提（有）多X了 for an Emphatic Degree
Both are emphatic spoken reactions, while 别提多X了 grades a property rather than addressing a target.
Continue learning
啊Initial Interjection 啊
Compare a standalone reaction particle with a complete evaluative construction directed at someone.
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Easy to confuse
Both directly criticize an addressee, but only 好你个X assigns an evaluative label.