九霄云外
jiu xiao yun wai
In Mandarin, 'cloud nine' can be expressed as 九霄云外 (jiu xiao yun wai).
While the English phrase 'cloud nine' refers to a state of bliss, the Mandarin idiom 九霄云外 is more commonly used in modern speech to describe something being completely forgotten or cast far away. If you wish to describe being in a state of extreme happiness or bliss, you should use alternative expressions such as 乐翻天, 嗨翻天 or 开心到飞起.
Meaning: state of bliss (noun)
Which one should you use?
While a learner might use 九霄云外 to mean a state of bliss, it actually functions to describe something being completely forgotten or cast far away.
How do you pronounce it?
jiu xiao yun wai
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use 九霄云外 to mean you are extremely happy. In modern Mandarin, this implies that something has been completely forgotten or cast far away. Use 乐翻天, 嗨翻天 or 开心到飞起 to express ecstasy instead.
Did you know?
- The phrase 九霄云外 refers to the 'ninth heaven', which in ancient Chinese cosmology was the highest point of the universe and the residence of the Celestial Emperor.
- In Chinese cosmology, the number nine represents the highest possible level of the heavens. Therefore, 九霄 refers to the highest reaches of the sky.
- To express the same 'bliss' as the English 'cloud nine', you are better off using the colloquial 嗨翻天, which uses the character for 'high' as in a party atmosphere.
Examples in context
- 他得到了心爱的礼物，心花怒放。He received his beloved gift, and his heart was blooming with joy.
- 她听到自己考试得了满分，高兴得不得了。She heard she got a perfect score on her exam and was ecstatic.
- 我拿到了心仪已久的工作，简直乐翻天了。I got the job I've been longing for, and I feel ecstatic.
- 朋友们为我举办了惊喜派对，我嗨翻天了！My friends threw a surprise party for me, and I was over the moon!
- 她听到自己的歌在电台播放，开心到飞起。She heard her song playing on the radio and was thrilled to bits.
Example conversation
Jiayi tells Junjie that she got her dream job.
- 佳怡 Jiayi俊杰，我拿到录取通知书了！Jùnjié, wǒ nádào lùqǔ tōngzhīshū le!Junjie, I got the acceptance letter!
- 俊杰 Junjie太棒了！你现在心情一定在九霄云外吧？tài bàng le! nǐ xiànzài xīnqíng yīdìng zài jiǔxiāo yúnwài ba?That's great! You must be on cloud nine right now, right?
- 佳怡 Jiayi没错，我简直不敢相信！méicuò, wǒ jiǎnzhí bùgǎn xiāngxìn!Exactly, I simply can't believe it!
- 俊杰 Junjie为你感到高兴，佳怡。wèi nǐ gǎndào gāoxìng, Jiāyí.I'm so happy for you, Jiayi.
