Difference between revisions of "Comparing "gaoxing" and "kaixin""

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Both 高兴 and 开心 can translated to mean happy, elated, or joyous. Both can be used in formal/informal settings and are often paired with “很”, “非常”, “十分”. A key difference is 高兴 is both an adjective and a verb, whereas 开心 is only an adjective. A final difference is 高兴 is used in fixed patterns when saying “nice to meet you” (as in a first time encounter).  
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Both 高兴 (gāoxìng) and 开心 (kāixīn) can translated to mean "happy." Both can be used in formal and informal settings and are often paired with intensifiers like 很 (hěn), 太 (tài), 非常 (fēicháng). A key difference is 高兴 is both an adjective and a verb (meaning "to be happy"), whereas 开心 is only an adjective. A final difference is 高兴 is used in fixed patterns like when you meet someone for the first to and say “pleased to meet you.
  
 
{{SimilarWordsCol1|高兴|gāoxìng|happy, elated, or joyous|adjective|flexible}}
 
{{SimilarWordsCol1|高兴|gāoxìng|happy, elated, or joyous|adjective|flexible}}
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{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
 
{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
  
== To say happy, elated, joyous oftentimes 高兴 and 开心 can be used interchangeably. ==
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== In common patterns "happy" 高兴 and 开心 are interchangeable ==
  
 
The following examples work with both 高兴 and 开心.  
 
The following examples work with both 高兴 and 开心.  
  
=== Common Patterns ===
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<div class="liju dapei">
  
<div class="liju dapei">
 
 
* 非常~
 
* 非常~
 
* 很~
 
* 很~
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</div>
 
</div>
  
== To say “nice to meet you” (as in a first time encounter) use 高兴 ==
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== To say “pleased to meet you” (as in a first time encounter) use 高兴 ==
  
 
=== Fixed Patterns ===
 
=== Fixed Patterns ===
  
 
<div class="liju dapei">
 
<div class="liju dapei">
* 认识你很高兴
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* 很高兴认识你
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* 认识 你 很 高兴。 <span class="pinyin">Rènshi nǐ hěn gāoxìng.</span>
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* 很 高兴 认识 你。 <span class="pinyin">Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ.</span><span class="trans">Pleased to meet you.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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We're using "pleased to meet you" instead of "nice to meet you" because "pleased" is closer to "happy," but you can translate that as "nice" in your head if you like.
  
 
== Only 高兴 can be used as a verb, to mean “to be happy to.” ==
 
== Only 高兴 can be used as a verb, to mean “to be happy to.” ==

Revision as of 07:42, 7 March 2022

Both 高兴 (gāoxìng) and 开心 (kāixīn) can translated to mean "happy." Both can be used in formal and informal settings and are often paired with intensifiers like 很 (hěn), 太 (tài), 非常 (fēicháng). A key difference is 高兴 is both an adjective and a verb (meaning "to be happy"), whereas 开心 is only an adjective. A final difference is 高兴 is used in fixed patterns like when you meet someone for the first to and say “pleased to meet you.”











A2HSK4ASV4567
高兴 (gāoxìng) 开心 (kāixīn)
Meaning happy happy
Part of Speech adjective adjective
Formality flexible flexible

In common patterns "happy" 高兴 and 开心 are interchangeable

The following examples work with both 高兴 and 开心.

  • 非常~
  • 很~
  • 十分~

To say “pleased to meet you” (as in a first time encounter) use 高兴

Fixed Patterns

  • 认识 你 很 高兴。 Rènshi nǐ hěn gāoxìng.
  • 很 高兴 认识 你。 Hěn gāoxìng rènshi nǐ.Pleased to meet you.

We're using "pleased to meet you" instead of "nice to meet you" because "pleased" is closer to "happy," but you can translate that as "nice" in your head if you like.

Only 高兴 can be used as a verb, to mean “to be happy to.”

Sources and further reading

Websites

"高兴" 和 "开心" 和有什么不一样? | HiNative https://zh.hinative.com/questions/17274531