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

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高兴 (adjective and verb) and 快乐 (adjective) both can be translated as happy or joyful, nonetheless they usually cannot be used interchangeably. 高兴 is used in informal/formal situations, while 快乐 is used in formal situations. In the sense of “happy”, 高兴 usually describes a feeling that is expressed outwardly with action or word (think cheerful), whereas 快乐 describes a feeling that one feels on the inside (think joyful).  
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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").
  
 
{{SimilarWordsCol1|高兴|gāoxìng|happy, cheerful|adjective|flexible}}
 
{{SimilarWordsCol1|高兴|gāoxìng|happy, cheerful|adjective|flexible}}
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{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
 
{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
  
== To show a cheerful emotion that is expressed outwardly with action and word use 高兴. ==
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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 at a holiday, all of these use 高兴.
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Think of a happy person with a big smile, a person enjoying a meal with friends, the feeling on a holiday. All of these use 高兴.
 
 
=== Common Phrases ===
 
 
 
<div class="liju dapei">
 
  
 +
<div class="liju">
 
* 很高兴
 
* 很高兴
 
* 非常高兴
 
* 非常高兴
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== To express an inner feeling that is felt on the inside and hard to find words to express use 快乐==
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== Use 快乐 for a deeper sense of "happiness" ==
  
Think of the feeling you have after finishing a hard task, or winning a competition. Simply put, this is pure joy.
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Think of the feeling you have after finishing a hard task, or winning a competition. It's also the one you use when you take a hard look at your life and ask, "am I happy?"
  
=== Fixed Phrases ===
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<div class="liju">
 +
* 快了的例句
 +
</div>
  
<div class="liju dapei">
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== Use 高兴 to say “nice to meet you” in introductions ==
  
* 感到快乐
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<div class="liju">
* 非常快乐
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* 认识你很高兴。
* 快乐的生活
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* 很高兴认识你。
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== To say “nice to meet you” (as in a first time encounter) use 高兴. ==
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== 快乐 is often used in well-wishing ==
  
=== Fixed Patterns ===
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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">
* 认识你很高兴
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* 生日 快乐
* 很高兴认识你
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* 圣诞节 快乐
 
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* 新年 快乐
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* 春节 快乐
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== To say “happy” 快乐 is often used in fixed phrases that cannot be substituted.  ==
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== Only 高兴 can be used as a verb to mean “to be happy to” ==
 
 
This use is very similar to the use of “Happy Birthday”, “Happy New Year”, or “Merry Christmas” in English.
 
  
=== Fixed Phrases ===
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This usage is definitely less common, but you will see it.
 
 
<div class="liju dapei">
 
  
* 生日快乐
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<div class="liju">
* 圣诞节快乐
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* 认识你很高兴。
* 新年快乐
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* 很高兴认识你。
* 春节快乐
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
 
== Only 高兴 can be used as a verb, to mean “to be happy to.” ==
 
 
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
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=== Websites ===
 
=== Websites ===
  
高兴、快乐、愉快、喜悦的区别
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* [https://qb.zuoyebang.com/xfe-question/question/25fc38583e9d4d98d4299a14c6918ca8.html 高兴、快乐、愉快、喜悦的区别]
 
 
https://qb.zuoyebang.com/xfe-question/question/25fc38583e9d4d98d4299a14c6918ca8.html
 

Revision as of 09:41, 20 April 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").











B1HSK2ASV4567
高兴 (gāoxìng) 快乐 (kuàilè)
Meaning happy, cheerful happy, joyful
Part of Speech adjective adjective, noun
Formality flexible formal

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 on a holiday. All of these use 高兴.

  • 很高兴
  • 非常高兴

Use 快乐 for a deeper sense of "happiness"

Think of the feeling you have after finishing a hard task, or winning a competition. It's also the one you use when you take a hard look at your life and ask, "am I happy?"

  • 快了的例句

Use 高兴 to say “nice to meet you” in introductions

  • 认识你很高兴。
  • 很高兴认识你。

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
  • 圣诞节 快乐
  • 新年 快乐
  • 春节 快乐

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.

  • 认识你很高兴。
  • 很高兴认识你。

Sources and further reading

Websites