Meaning
快乐 means happiness or joy, describing a state of being happy and content. It combines 快 (fast, quick, pleased) and 乐 (happy, joy). This word emphasizes a more active, upbeat kind of happiness compared to other words like 幸福 (which suggests deeper contentment or well-being).
Usage
快乐 is commonly used in everyday conversation and especially in greetings and wishes, such as 生日快乐 (happy birthday) or 圣诞快乐 (merry Christmas). It tends to describe temporary states of happiness or moments of joy rather than long-term life satisfaction. Native speakers often use it to wish others well on special occasions.
Examples
- 01祝你生日快乐!!Wishing you a happy birthday!
- 02孩子们在公园里快快乐乐地玩耍。.The children are playing happily in the park.
Characters
Common collocations
- 生日快乐happy birthday
- 新年快乐happy new year
- 圣诞快乐merry Christmas
- 快快乐乐happily, joyfully (reduplication for emphasis)
Antonyms
Origin
The character 快 originally meant swift or quick, but extended to mean pleased or happy (as pleasant feelings come quickly). 乐 depicts a stringed instrument and represents joy or music. Together they form a compound emphasizing cheerful happiness.