Difference between revisions of "Comparing "gaoxing" and "kuaile""
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− | 高兴 and 快乐 both | + | 高兴 (gāoxìng) and 快乐 (kuàilè) can both be translated as “happy," but are used in slightly different contexts. 高兴 is used in informal and formal situations, while 快乐 is used in mainly formal situations and well-wishing. 高兴 usually describes a happy feeling that is expressed outwardly with action or word (think "cheerful"), whereas 快乐 describes a feeling that one feels deep down on the inside (think "joyful"). 快乐 is sometimes used as a noun, meaning "happiness." |
− | + | {{SimilarWordsCol1|高兴|gāoxìng|happy, cheerful|adjective|flexible}} | |
− | + | {{SimilarWordsCol2|快乐|kuàilè|happy, joyful|adjective, noun|formal}} | |
− | + | {{SimilarWordsPageInfo|B1|HSK2|ASV4567}} | |
− | + | {{2021-HSK|HSK2}} | |
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− | == | + | == Use 高兴 for typical "happy" feelings == |
− | Think of a happy person with a big smile, a person enjoying a meal with friends, the feeling | + | Think of a happy person with a big smile, a person enjoying a meal with friends, the feeling of enjoying a good weekend. All of these use 高兴. |
− | === | + | <div class="liju"> |
+ | * 我 跟 你 在 一起 很 <em>高兴</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ gēn nǐ zài yīqǐ hěn <em>gāoxìng</em>.</span><span class="trans">I'm happy when I'm with you.</span> | ||
+ | * 你 最近 有没有 不 <em>高兴</em> ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zuìjìn yǒuméiyǒu bù <em>gāoxìng</em>?</span><span class="trans">Have you been unhappy lately?</span> | ||
+ | * 今天 的 晚会 大家 玩 得 很 <em>高兴</em>。<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān de wǎnhuì dàjiā wán de hěn <em>gāoxìng</em>.</span><span class="trans">Everyone had a good time at the party today.</span> | ||
+ | * 这次 奥运会 他 得 了 银牌,所以 他 非常 <em>高兴</em>。<span class="pinyin">Zhècì Àoyùnhuì tā de le yínpái, suǒyǐ tā fēicháng <em>gāoxìng</em>.</span><span class="trans">He won a silver medal at the Olympics this time, so he was happy.</span> | ||
+ | * 如果 你 这样 做,你 的 妈妈 会 不 <em>高兴</em> 的。<span class="pinyin">Rúguǒ nǐ zhèyàng zuò, nǐ de māma huì bù <em>gāoxìng</em> de.</span><span class="trans">If you do that, your mom won't be happy.</span> | ||
+ | * 我 喜欢 赢,输 的 时候 我 会 很 不 <em>高兴</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xǐhuan yíng, shū deshíhou wǒhuì hěn bù <em>gāoxìng</em>.</span><span class="trans">I like to win and I get very unhappy when I lose.</span> | ||
+ | * 他 最近 升职 了,所以 他 很 <em>高兴</em>。<span class="pinyin">Tā zuìjìn shēngzhí le, suǒyǐ tā hěn <em>gāoxìng</em>.</span><span class="trans">He was recently promoted so he is happy.</span> | ||
+ | * 我 今天 不太 <em>高兴</em>,因为 我 的 手机 被 偷 了。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ jīntiān bùtài <em>gāoxìng</em>, yīnwèi wǒ de shǒujī bèi tōu le.</span><span class="trans">I'm not so happy today because my phone was stolen.</span> | ||
+ | * 我 很 <em>高兴</em>,因为 今天 的 飞机 按时 起飞 了。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ hěn <em>gāoxìng</em>, yīnwèi jīntiān de fēijī ànshí qǐfēi le.</span><span class="trans">I'm happy because the plane took off on time today.</span> | ||
+ | </div> | ||
− | <div class="liju | + | == Use 快乐 for a deeper sense of "happiness" == |
+ | |||
+ | Think of the feeling you have after finishing a long, hard task, spending a wonderful year abroad, or marrying your soulmate. It's also the one you use when you take a hard look at your life and ask, "am I happy?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | === Example Sentences for "deeper happy" === | ||
+ | |||
+ | <div class="liju"> | ||
+ | * 你 觉得 你 现在 过 得 <em>快乐</em> 吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ juéde nǐ xiànzài guò de <em>kuàilè</em> ma?</span><span class="trans">Do you think you are happy now?</span> | ||
+ | * 我 觉得 我 的 童年 是 很 <em>快乐</em> 的。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ juéde wǒ de tóngnián shì hěn <em>kuàilè</em> de.</span><span class="trans">I think I had a very happy childhood.</span> | ||
+ | * 我 在 上海 的 生活 过 得 很 <em>快乐</em>。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ zài Shànghǎi de shēnghuó guò de hěn <em>kuàilè</em>.</span><span class="trans">I am happy with my life in Shanghai.</span> | ||
+ | * 现在 的 孩子 都 过 得 不 太 <em>快乐</em>,因为 他们 的 学习 压力 越来越 大。<span class="pinyin">Xiànzài de háizi dōu guò de bù tài <em>kuàilè</em>, yīnwèi tāmen de xuéxí yālì yuèláiyuè dà.</span><span class="trans">Nowadays, children are not so happy because they are under more and more pressure to study.</span> | ||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | === Example Sentences for "happiness" === | ||
+ | |||
+ | In this sense, 快乐 can also be used as a noun, meaning "happiness" or "joy." | ||
− | + | <div class="liju"> | |
− | * | + | * 我们 需要 和 朋友 分享 <em>快乐</em>。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen xūyào hé péngyou fēnxiǎng <em>kuàilè</em>.</span><span class="trans">We need to share joy with our friends.</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
− | == | + | === Example Sentences for "happy events" === |
− | + | 快乐 is also more likely to be used when describing a "happy event." | |
− | <div class="liju | + | <div class="liju"> |
+ | * 帮助 别人 是 一 件 很 <em>快乐</em> 的 事情。<span class="pinyin">Bāngzhù biérén shì yī jiàn hěn <em>kuàilè</em> de shìqing.</span><span class="trans">Helping others is a joyful thing to do.</span> | ||
+ | </div> | ||
+ | |||
+ | == Use 高兴 to say “nice to meet you” in introductions == | ||
+ | |||
+ | This one is quite simple and cane be summed up in the following examples: | ||
− | * | + | <div class="liju"> |
− | * | + | * 认识 你 很 <em>高兴</em>。<span class="pinyin">Rènshi nǐ hěn <em>gāoxìng</em>.</span><span class="trans">Nice to meet you.</span> |
− | * | + | * 很 <em>高兴</em> 认识 你 。<span class="pinyin">Hěn <em>gāoxìng</em> Rènshi nǐ.</span><span class="trans">Nice to meet you.</span> |
+ | * 今天 我 很 <em>高兴</em> 认识 大家。<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān wǒ hěn <em>gāoxìng</em> rènshi dàjiā.</span><span class="trans">I'm happy to meet everyone today.</span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
− | == | + | == 快乐 is often used in well-wishing == |
− | + | This use is very similar to the use of "Happy Birthday," "Happy New Year," or "Merry Christmas" in English. | |
<div class="liju dapei"> | <div class="liju dapei"> | ||
− | * | + | * 生日 <em>快乐</em><span class="pinyin">shēngrì <em>kuàilè</em></span><span class="trans">Happy Birthday</span> |
− | * | + | * 圣诞节 <em>快乐</em><span class="pinyin">shèngdànjié <em>kuàilè</em></span><span class="trans">Merry Christmas</span> |
+ | * 新年 <em>快乐</em><span class="pinyin">xīnnián <em>kuàilè</em></span><span class="trans">Happy New Year</span> | ||
+ | * 春节 <em>快乐</em><span class="pinyin">chūnjié <em>kuàilè</em></span><span class="trans">Happy Chinese New Year</span> | ||
+ | </div> | ||
− | + | == Only 高兴 can be used as a verb to mean “to be happy to” == | |
− | + | This usage is definitely less common, but you will see it. | |
− | + | <div class="liju"> | |
+ | * 我 很 <em>高兴</em> 听 到 这个 好 消息。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ hěn <em>gāoxìng</em> tīng dào zhège hǎo xiāoxī.</span><span class="trans">I am so glad to hear the good news.</span> | ||
+ | * 我 的 爷爷 一定 会 很 <em>高兴</em> 看 到 你们。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de yéye yīdìng huì hěn <em>gāoxìng</em> kàn dào nǐmen.</span><span class="trans">My grandfather will be so happy to see you all.</span> | ||
+ | * 我们 今天 很 <em>高兴</em> 可以 吃 到 这么 好吃 的 中国 菜。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen jīntiān hěn <em>gāoxìng</em> kěyǐ chī dào zhème hǎochī de Zhōngguó cài.</span><span class="trans">We are so happy to have such good Chinese food today.</span> | ||
+ | </div> | ||
− | == | + | == Sources and further reading == |
− | + | === Websites === | |
− | * | + | * [https://qb.zuoyebang.com/xfe-question/question/25fc38583e9d4d98d4299a14c6918ca8.html 高兴、快乐、愉快、喜悦的区别] |
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Latest revision as of 03:54, 16 June 2022
高兴 (gāoxìng) and 快乐 (kuàilè) can both be translated as “happy," but are used in slightly different contexts. 高兴 is used in informal and formal situations, while 快乐 is used in mainly formal situations and well-wishing. 高兴 usually describes a happy feeling that is expressed outwardly with action or word (think "cheerful"), whereas 快乐 describes a feeling that one feels deep down on the inside (think "joyful"). 快乐 is sometimes used as a noun, meaning "happiness."
高兴 (gāoxìng) | 快乐 (kuàilè) | |
---|---|---|
Meaning | happy, cheerful | happy, joyful |
Part of Speech | adjective | adjective, noun |
Formality | flexible | formal |
Contents
Use 高兴 for typical "happy" feelings
Think of a happy person with a big smile, a person enjoying a meal with friends, the feeling of enjoying a good weekend. All of these use 高兴.
- 我 跟 你 在 一起 很 高兴。I'm happy when I'm with you.
- 你 最近 有没有 不 高兴 ?Have you been unhappy lately?
- 今天 的 晚会 大家 玩 得 很 高兴。Everyone had a good time at the party today.
- 这次 奥运会 他 得 了 银牌,所以 他 非常 高兴。He won a silver medal at the Olympics this time, so he was happy.
- 如果 你 这样 做,你 的 妈妈 会 不 高兴 的。If you do that, your mom won't be happy.
- 我 喜欢 赢,输 的 时候 我 会 很 不 高兴。I like to win and I get very unhappy when I lose.
- 他 最近 升职 了,所以 他 很 高兴。He was recently promoted so he is happy.
- 我 今天 不太 高兴,因为 我 的 手机 被 偷 了。I'm not so happy today because my phone was stolen.
- 我 很 高兴,因为 今天 的 飞机 按时 起飞 了。I'm happy because the plane took off on time today.
Use 快乐 for a deeper sense of "happiness"
Think of the feeling you have after finishing a long, hard task, spending a wonderful year abroad, or marrying your soulmate. It's also the one you use when you take a hard look at your life and ask, "am I happy?"
Example Sentences for "deeper happy"
- 你 觉得 你 现在 过 得 快乐 吗?Do you think you are happy now?
- 我 觉得 我 的 童年 是 很 快乐 的。I think I had a very happy childhood.
- 我 在 上海 的 生活 过 得 很 快乐。I am happy with my life in Shanghai.
- 现在 的 孩子 都 过 得 不 太 快乐,因为 他们 的 学习 压力 越来越 大。Nowadays, children are not so happy because they are under more and more pressure to study.
Example Sentences for "happiness"
In this sense, 快乐 can also be used as a noun, meaning "happiness" or "joy."
- 我们 需要 和 朋友 分享 快乐。 We need to share joy with our friends.
Example Sentences for "happy events"
快乐 is also more likely to be used when describing a "happy event."
- 帮助 别人 是 一 件 很 快乐 的 事情。Helping others is a joyful thing to do.
Use 高兴 to say “nice to meet you” in introductions
This one is quite simple and cane be summed up in the following examples:
- 认识 你 很 高兴。Nice to meet you.
- 很 高兴 认识 你 。Nice to meet you.
- 今天 我 很 高兴 认识 大家。I'm happy to meet everyone today.
快乐 is often used in well-wishing
This use is very similar to the use of "Happy Birthday," "Happy New Year," or "Merry Christmas" in English.
- 生日 快乐Happy Birthday
- 圣诞节 快乐Merry Christmas
- 新年 快乐Happy New Year
- 春节 快乐Happy Chinese New Year
Only 高兴 can be used as a verb to mean “to be happy to”
This usage is definitely less common, but you will see it.
- 我 很 高兴 听 到 这个 好 消息。I am so glad to hear the good news.
- 我 的 爷爷 一定 会 很 高兴 看 到 你们。My grandfather will be so happy to see you all.
- 我们 今天 很 高兴 可以 吃 到 这么 好吃 的 中国 菜。We are so happy to have such good Chinese food today.