A0 · reviewed · real-chinese

不错。

Not bad. / Pretty good.
Practice recall

Practice path

Make this line survive without the page.

Start with the sound, then answer the authored recall prompts for this exact line. No browsing through the whole quiz set.

0/4 recalled Next: hear it cold. Continue next step

Current move

Hear it cold Listen first, then choose the Mandarin line before reading the page again.

Scene

When to use it

Giving a mild positive reaction to food, a plan, a result, or someone’s work.

Risk

safe

If you need enthusiastic praise, 太好了 or 很好 may be clearer.

Literal

Not wrong.

不错 often means pretty good, not merely not bad. It is a common understated positive response.

Examples

Say it inside real sentences.

Run the 4-step recall
01 This dish is pretty good.
02 Your Chinese is pretty good.

Mini dialogue

Hear the social move.

Play both lines, then say the second line without looking.

A How is this?
B Pretty good.

Contrast

Do not blur these together.

01 Pretty good.
02 So-so.

Recall prompts

Check whether it survived.

01 · What does 不错。 mean?

Answer: Not bad. / Pretty good.

不错 literally means not wrong, but often means pretty good.

Practice this prompt
02 · Fill the pinyin for 不错。

Answer: bú cuò

不 changes to bú before fourth-tone 错.

Practice this prompt
03 · Can 不错 be positive?

Answer: Yes.

It is often mild praise, not a complaint.

Practice this prompt