nice job, great work, doing well! [Dutch phrase of the week]
“Goed bezig” is actually a shortened form of “<subject> <finite form of “zijn”> goed bezig”: “you are doing well”.
“Bezig” actually translates to “busy” and “bezig zijn” means “to be
in the act of”. So “goed bezig” means that whatever it is that you are
doing, you are doing it well, or you are doing well for yourself. You
can also use it to encourage somebody, a bit like the “nice job!” that
I frequently hear when I’m in the U.S.
Mind that “goed bezig” is used informally. You will also hear
“lekker bezig” which kind of has the same meaning but is mainly used
ironically, see the last example.
Examples:
– “Heb jij ook gemerkt dat Edyta al veel beter Nederlands spreekt?” – “Ja man, ze is echt goed bezig!”
(“Have you also noticed that Edyta’s Dutch has already improved?” –
“Yeah man, she is really doing well!” Lit. “…that Edyta already
speaks Dutch a lot better?”)
– “Goed bezig mannen!”
(“Nice job guys! / (You are) doing well guys!”)
– “Wist je al dat Pepijn en Anneloes een huis hebben gekocht?” – “Nee nog niet. Maar die zijn dus goed bezig!”
(“Did you know that Pepijn and Anneloes have bought a house?” – “No not
yet. I understand that they are doing well!” Note that “maar” normally
translates to “but” and “dus” to “thus/hence”, but in this case the
“maar <subject> dus” is best translated with “I understand”.)
– “Frank is net begonnen met zijn nieuwe baan en heeft nu al promotie gemaakt!” – “Zo hee, die is goed bezig!”
(“Frank has just started his new job and now he has already been promoted!” – “Wow, he is doing well for himself!” Literally “… has made promotion”.)
– “Er komt weer een reorganisatie aan!” – “Nou, het management is weer lekker bezig!”)
(“There is another reorganization coming!” – “<ironically:> My, the management at its best again!”)