Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 幸福 | xìngfú |
| 快樂 / 快乐 | kuàilè |
| 愉快 | yúkuài |
Chinese uses different words for happiness depending on whether you are describing a deep state of being or a temporary mood. While 幸福 describes a long-lasting sense of well-being, other terms like 快樂 / 快乐 or 愉快 are used for more transient feelings or specific experiences.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the nuance of the emotion. 幸福 refers to a deep, long-lasting sense of well-being or a blessed life. In contrast, 快樂 / 快乐 refers to a more transient, upbeat state of being happy or having fun. Finally, 愉快 is typically used to describe a pleasant mood or a pleasant experience, such as a 'pleasant conversation'.
How does it change in a sentence?
Since 幸福 functions as an adjective, you will often see the adverb 很 placed before it to mean 'to be happy' in a descriptive sense, such as in the phrase 很幸福.
How do you pronounce it?
xìngfú
When do people say it?
The specific type of happiness you wish for someone matters. For example, when wishing someone a happy birthday, you would typically use 快樂 rather than 幸福.
Did you know?
- In many Chinese New Year celebrations, you will see the character 福 displayed upside down on doors. This is because the word for 'upside down' sounds like the word for 'arrived', implying that 'happiness has arrived'.
- The character 快 in 快樂 literally means 'fast' or 'quick'. While it means 'happy' in this context, its primary sense is related to speed.
- If you tell a Chinese person you are 'very happy' using 很幸福 in a casual setting, they might think you are announcing a major life milestone like a marriage or a child, rather than just a good mood.
Examples in context
- 幸福是买不到的。You cannot buy happiness.Tatoeba #1785979 by sadhen, translation #240832 by CC
- 每箇人都向往幸福。Everybody desires happiness.Tatoeba #5655357 by verdastelo9604, translation #276425 by CK
- 幸福是由自己的心决定的。Happiness is determined by your heart.Tatoeba #904994 by jessie0422, translation #904941 by jessie0422
- 她的家庭生活充满了幸福和爱。Her family life is full of happiness and love.
- 祝你新年快乐！Wishing you a happy New Year!
- 今天的派对真的很开心！Today's party was really fun!
- 见到你真是太高兴了！I'm so glad to see you!
- 36 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is talking about their future life together.
- 梓涵 Zihan我们要一起创造幸福。wǒ men yào yì qǐ chuàng zào xìng fú.We will create happiness together.
- 俊杰 Junjie梓涵，我会一直保护你的。zǐ hán, wǒ huì yì zhí bǎo hù nǐ de.Zihan, I will always protect you.
- 梓涵 Zihan有你在身边，我就觉得很幸福。yǒu nǐ zài shēn biān, wǒ jiù jué de hěn xìng fú.With you by my side, I feel very happy.
- 俊杰 Junjie我也一样，俊杰会永远陪着你。wǒ yě yí yàng, jùn jié huì yǒng yuǎn péi zhe nǐ.Me too, Junjie will always be with you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “happiness” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
