hégé: 合格 - Qualified, To Pass, To Meet the Standard

• Keywords: hégé, hege, 合格, qualified in Chinese, pass a test in Chinese, meet the standard in Chinese, Chinese word for qualified, hégé meaning, what does hégé mean, product quality, pass an exam
• Summary: Learn how to use 合格 (hégé), a fundamental Chinese word meaning “qualified,” “to pass,” or “to meet a standard.” This term is essential for understanding contexts from passing an HSK exam and getting a health check-up to product quality control in modern China. This page breaks down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical usage with clear examples to help you use it correctly and avoid common mistakes.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): hégé
• Part of Speech: Adjective, Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To be qualified, to meet the required standard, or to pass a test or inspection.
• In a Nutshell: 合格 (hégé) is a black-and-white term that signifies meeting an objective, pre-defined benchmark. There is no middle ground; something is either 合格 or it isn't. Think of it as a seal of approval or a passing grade. It's used for products that pass quality control, students who pass an exam, or professionals who have the necessary skills for a job. It's a neutral, factual term focused on meeting the minimum requirements.

• 合 (hé): This character can mean “to combine,” “to join,” or “to suit.” Pictorially, it can be seen as a lid (or mouth) fitting perfectly onto a container, symbolizing a perfect fit or agreement.
• 格 (gé): This character means “standard,” “pattern,” “form,” or “grid.” Think of a set of rules, a box to check, or a pattern to match.

When combined, 合格 (hégé) literally means “to join/fit (合) the standard (格).” This perfectly captures its essence: something or someone has successfully met the established criteria.

In Western cultures, “passing” can sometimes have a slightly negative or lazy connotation, as in “just getting by.” The Chinese concept of 合格 (hégé), however, is a more neutral and often significant milestone. In a society with a strong emphasis on standards and examinations—from the historical imperial exams to the modern-day *gaokao* (高考) college entrance exam—achieving 合格 status is the fundamental first step to success. It is not seen as “slacking off” but as achieving the necessary baseline for entry or acceptance. For example, an American might say, “I passed, but I wish I'd done better,” focusing on the gap between their performance and perfection. A Chinese perspective might place more emphasis on the fact of passing itself: “我合格了 (wǒ hégé le),” which is a definitive, positive achievement. It represents a transition from “not qualified” to “qualified,” a crucial boundary to cross. This is especially visible in manufacturing, where a 合格 stamp is a non-negotiable guarantee of quality and safety, not just a suggestion that the product is “good enough.”

合格 (hégé) is a common and practical term used across various formal and official contexts.

• Education and Examinations: This is one of its most common uses. It signifies passing a test or course.
  • HSK考试合格了 (HSK kǎoshì hégé le) - Passed the HSK test.
• Product Quality and Inspection: You will frequently see a small sticker or stamp with “合格” on new products, especially electronics, appliances, and packaged goods. It's a quality assurance mark.
  • 产品质量合格 (chǎnpǐn zhìliàng hégé) - The product quality meets the standard.
• Health and Safety: Used in official reports like health check-ups or building safety inspections.
  • 体检结果合格 (tǐjiǎn jiéguǒ hégé) - The results of the physical examination are normal/passed.
• Professional Qualifications: It describes a person who meets the requirements for a role.
  • 他是一位合格的老师 (tā shì yī wèi hégé de lǎoshī) - He is a qualified teacher.

The term is generally neutral to formal and is a statement of objective fact rather than subjective feeling.

• Example 1:
  • 这个产品是合格的，你可以放心使用。
  • Pinyin: Zhège chǎnpǐn shì hégé de, nǐ kěyǐ fàngxīn shǐyòng.
  • English: This product is qualified, you can use it without worry.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example from a quality control context. The 合格 status serves as a guarantee of safety and reliability.
• Example 2:
  • 恭喜你，你的汉语水平考试合格了！
  • Pinyin: Gōngxǐ nǐ, nǐ de Hànyǔ Shuǐpíng Kǎoshì hégé le!
  • English: Congratulations, you passed your HSK exam!
  • Analysis: Here, 合格 is used as a verb with “了 (le)” to indicate the completed action of passing. This is a very common phrase for learners to hear or use.
• Example 3:
  • 我们公司正在招聘一名合格的会计。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī zhèngzài zhāopìn yī míng hégé de kuàijì.
  • English: Our company is currently recruiting a qualified accountant.
  • Analysis: Used as an adjective with “的 (de),” 合格 describes the necessary quality of a person for a professional role. It implies meeting the baseline skills and certifications.
• Example 4:
  • 对不起，这批货不合格，我们不能接受。
  • Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, zhè pī huò bù hégé, wǒmen bùnéng jiēshòu.
  • English: Sorry, this batch of goods is not up to standard, we cannot accept it.
  • Analysis: This shows the negative form, 不合格 (bù hégé), which means “unqualified” or “substandard.” This is a firm and formal way to reject something based on objective criteria.
• Example 5:
  • 我的体检结果全部合格，医生说我很健康。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de tǐjiǎn jiéguǒ quánbù hégé, yīshēng shuō wǒ hěn jiànkāng.
  • English: My physical exam results all passed, the doctor said I am very healthy.
  • Analysis: In a medical context, 合格 means “normal” or “within the healthy range.” It's the desired outcome of any medical test.
• Example 6:
  • 要成为一名合格的飞行员，你需要通过很多严格的训练。
  • Pinyin: Yào chéngwéi yī míng hégé de fēixíngyuán, nǐ xūyào tōngguò hěnduō yángé de xùnliàn.
  • English: To become a qualified pilot, you need to pass a lot of rigorous training.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights that becoming 合格 is a process that requires meeting high standards.
• Example 7:
  • 每个出厂的手机上都有一个“合格”证。
  • Pinyin: Měi ge chūchǎng de shǒujī shàng dōu yǒu yī ge “hégé” zhèng.
  • English: Every mobile phone that leaves the factory has a “quality certified” certificate.
  • Analysis: 合格证 (hégé zhèng) is a compound word meaning “certificate of quality” or “compliance certificate.”
• Example 8:
  • 他也许很聪明，但他不是一个合格的团队领导。
  • Pinyin: Tā yěxǔ hěn cōngmíng, dàn tā bùshì yī ge hégé de tuánduì lǐngdǎo.
  • English: He may be very smart, but he is not a qualified team leader.
  • Analysis: This shows that 合格 can refer to suitability for a role, which includes more than just technical skill. It can also encompass leadership, temperament, and other necessary attributes.
• Example 9:
  • 这家餐厅的卫生检查终于合格了。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā cāntīng de wèishēng jiǎnchá zhōngyú hégé le.
  • English: This restaurant's hygiene inspection finally passed.
  • Analysis: The use of “终于 (zhōngyú - finally)” implies that passing was a challenge, reinforcing that 合格 is a significant and sometimes difficult-to-achieve status.
• Example 10:
  • 作为一个父亲，我时常反思自己是否合格。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi yī ge fùqīn, wǒ shícháng fǎnsī zìjǐ shìfǒu hégé.
  • English: As a father, I often reflect on whether I am “up to the mark” (qualified).
  • Analysis: This is a more abstract and introspective use of the word. It shows someone applying an external-like standard to their own personal role, questioning if they are meeting the responsibilities of being a good parent.

• `合格 (hégé)` vs. `优秀 (yōuxiù)` - “Passing” vs. “Excellent”
  • A very common mistake for learners is to use 合格 to mean “great” or “excellent.” 合格 is the baseline—the 60% passing grade. It means you met the minimum requirement. 优秀 (yōuxiù) means excellent—the 90%+ A grade.
  • Correct: 他是一个合格的司机 (He is a competent/qualified driver - he won't crash).
  • Correct: 他是一个优秀的司机 (He is an excellent driver - he drives skillfully and smoothly).
  • Incorrect: 这部电影太合格了！(This would mean “This movie barely passed as a movie!” not “This movie was great!”)
• False Friend: “Acceptable”
  • While you can translate 合格 as “acceptable,” be careful. In English, “acceptable” can imply reluctance (“It's not what I wanted, but it's acceptable.”). 合格 is a neutral, objective statement that something has met a formal standard. There is no feeling of reluctance. It's simply a fact.
• Don't Use for Subjective Opinions
  • 合格 is for objective standards, not personal tastes like food or art.
  • Incorrect: 这顿饭很合格。
  • Correct: 这顿饭很好吃。(zhè dùn fàn hěn hǎochī - This meal is delicious.)

• 及格 (jígé) - To pass (an exam). Very similar to 合格 but almost exclusively used for grades and examinations. 合格 is broader and can apply to products, people, and processes.
• 通过 (tōngguò) - To pass, to get through. Often interchangeable with 合格 for exams (e.g., 通过考试). 通过 can also mean “to pass through” a location or “to approve” a plan, making it broader.
• 优秀 (yōuxiù) - Excellent, outstanding. This is the level above 合格. First you become 合格, then you can strive to be 优秀.
• 不合格 (bù hégé) - Unqualified, substandard. The direct antonym of 合格.
• 标准 (biāozhǔn) - Standard, criterion. This is the set of rules or benchmarks that one must meet to be considered 合格.
• 资格 (zīgé) - Qualifications, credentials. Refers to the things you possess (like a degree or license) that allow you to be considered for something. 合格 is the state of having met the standard for a specific test or task. You have the 资格 to take the test; you hope the result is 合格.
• 等级 (děngjí) - Grade, rank, level. The system of classification where statuses like 合格 (passed), 不合格 (failed), and 优秀 (excellent) are defined.