Meaning
欢喜 expresses a feeling of joy, happiness, or delight. It can describe both a state of being happy and the act of liking or being fond of something or someone. The word carries a warm, heartfelt quality and is often used in literary or slightly formal contexts, though it also appears in everyday speech in certain regions.
Usage
欢喜 is more common in southern dialects and written Chinese than in northern colloquial speech, where 高兴 or 开心 are preferred. It frequently appears in classical literature, Buddhist texts, and traditional expressions. When used as a verb meaning 'to like,' it often takes an object and is more common in regional varieties of Mandarin.
Examples
- 01听到这个好消息，她满心欢喜。, .Hearing this good news, she was filled with joy.
- 02孩子们欢欢喜喜地过新年。.The children happily celebrated the New Year.
Characters
Common collocations
- 欢欢喜喜happily, joyfully (reduplicated form)
- 皆大欢喜everyone is happy (idiom)
- 满心欢喜full of joy
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to joy and happiness. 欢 originally depicted a bird singing joyfully, while 喜 shows a drum and mouth, suggesting celebrations with music and expression. Together they form a compound reinforcing the concept of happiness.