Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 嬉しい | ureshii | [ɯ̟ɾe̞ɕiː] (narrow) |
| 幸せな | shiawase na | |
| 幸福な | kōfuku na |
Use 嬉しい to express joy or happiness caused by a specific external event, such as receiving a gift or hearing good news. For a deep-seated sense of well-being or overall contentment, use 幸せな or 幸せ.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the duration and nature of the feeling. 嬉しい is used for temporary, situational happiness. In contrast, 幸せな describes long-term, deep-seated happiness or a state of well-being. 幸福な is a more formal, literary or academic way to express bliss or happiness.
How does it change in a sentence?
嬉しい is an i-adjective, which means it can be used as a predicate or can directly modify a noun without adding any extra particles. 幸せな is a na-adjective, which requires the particle な to modify a noun.
How do you pronounce it?
ureshii
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use 幸せ to describe a sudden pleasant surprise. Instead, use 嬉しい when reacting to good news or gifts.
Did you know?
- Some linguists suggest that 嬉しい might be related to the verb 熟れる (ureru), meaning 'to ripen', implying that joy is a state of emotional maturation.
- The word 幸せ was historically associated with the concept of 'luck' or 'fate' rather than just an emotional state.
- The adjective 嬉しい is almost exclusively used for the speaker's own feelings or those of people close to them, and is rarely used to describe a third party's internal state.
Examples in context
- 私も嬉しいわ。I'm happy, too.This sentence shows how to express that you are also happy using 嬉しい.Tatoeba #10014605 by small_snow, translation #2044393 by CK
- マジで嬉しい！I'm really happy!This sentence demonstrates an informal way to say you are really happy using 嬉しい.Tatoeba #11049529 by small_snow, translation #1232236 by falcons84
- 会えて嬉しいよ。I'm happy to see you.This sentence expresses the happiness felt from seeing someone using 嬉しい.Tatoeba #185455 by bunbuku, translation #71168 by CK
- 81 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Hiroto are talking at a cafe after a successful event.
- 美咲 Misakiイベントが成功して、本当に嬉しいわ。Ibento ga seikou shite, hontou ni ureshii wa.I am truly happy that the event was a success.
- 大翔 Hiroto美咲、君の頑張りが実を結んで良かったよ。Misaki, kimi no ganbari ga mi o musunde yokatta yo.Misaki, I'm glad your hard work paid off.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔にそう言ってもらえて嬉しい。Hiroto ni sou itte moraete ureshii.I am happy to hear you say that, Hiroto.
- 大翔 Hiroto僕も、今日はお祝いできて嬉しいよ。Boku mo, kyou wa oiwai dekite ureshii yo.I am also happy that I can celebrate today.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “happy” translations and entries 嬉しい, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 嬉しい, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
