adjective HSK 5
Traditional 樂觀
guān
optimistic · hopeful · positive

Meaning

乐观 describes a positive, hopeful attitude or outlook toward life and future events. It characterizes someone who expects good outcomes and maintains a cheerful perspective even in difficult situations. The word literally combines 'happy/joyful' (乐) with 'to observe/view' (观), suggesting viewing things through a happy lens.

Usage

乐观 is commonly used to describe personality traits, attitudes, or predictions. It often appears in phrases like 乐观的人 (optimistic person) or 保持乐观 (maintain optimism). Native speakers use it in both formal and casual contexts, and it carries a consistently positive connotation. It can describe both temporary attitudes toward specific situations and enduring personality characteristics.

Examples

  1. 01
    她对未来很乐观,相信一切都会好起来。
    duì wèi lái hěn guān, xiāng xìn qiè dōu huì hǎo lái.
    She is very optimistic about the future and believes everything will get better.
  2. 02
    医生对他的康复情况持乐观态度。
    shēng duì de kāng qíng kuàng chí guān tài .
    The doctor holds an optimistic attitude about his recovery.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 乐观的态度
    guān de tài
    optimistic attitude
  • 保持乐观
    bǎo chí guān
    remain optimistic
  • 乐观主义
    guān zhǔ
    optimism
  • 过分乐观
    guò fèn guān
    overly optimistic

Antonyms

Origin

The compound combines 乐 (happiness/joy) with 观 (observation/viewpoint), creating the meaning of 'viewing with joy' or 'happy perspective.' This modern compound reflects the philosophical concept of maintaining a positive worldview.

Related