Difference between revisions of "Comparing "gaoxing" and "kaixin""
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== To say “pleased to meet you” (as in a first time encounter) use 高兴 == | == To say “pleased to meet you” (as in a first time encounter) use 高兴 == | ||
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| + | For these fixed sayings, it's not that 开心 (kāixīn) is necessarily ''wrong''; it's just that there's already a set "translation" of sorts, and that set phrase uses 高兴 (gāoxìng). | ||
=== Fixed Patterns === | === Fixed Patterns === | ||
Revision as of 07:50, 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.”
| 高兴 (gāoxìng) | 开心 (kāixīn) | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | happy | happy |
| Part of Speech | adjective | adjective |
| Formality | flexible | flexible |
Contents
In common patterns "happy" 高兴 and 开心 are interchangeable
The following examples work with both 高兴 and 开心.
- 很～ very ~
- 太～了 so ~
- 非常～ very ~
To say “pleased to meet you” (as in a first time encounter) use 高兴
For these fixed sayings, it's not that 开心 (kāixīn) is necessarily wrong; it's just that there's already a set "translation" of sorts, and that set phrase uses 高兴 (gāoxìng).
Fixed Patterns
- 认识 你 很 高兴。 Pleased to meet you.
- 很 高兴 认识 你。 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.
Sources and further reading
Websites
- "高兴" 和 "开心" 和有什么不一样? | HiNative
