Ways to say it
| Mandarin | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 高興 / 高兴 | gāoxìng |
| 愉快 | yúkuài |
| 快樂 / 快乐 | kuàilè |
| 幸福 | xìngfú |
Mandarin uses different words for 'happy' depending on whether you are describing a fleeting mood, a pleasant experience or a deep sense of well-being.
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on the duration and depth of the feeling. 快樂 / 快乐 (kuàilè) refers to a more general or long-term sense of joy. 幸福 (xìngfú) refers to deep, long-lasting happiness or well-being, often used in the context of life satisfaction, marriage or family. 愉快 (yúkuài) is used to describe a pleasant atmosphere or a specific experience, such as a trip.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using 高興 / 高兴 as an adjective to describe a feeling, it is common to precede it with 很 (hěn), even if the English translation does not strictly require the word 'very'.
How do you pronounce it?
gāoxìng
When do people say it?
To wish someone a happy holiday or a happy birthday, use the standard phrase structure 祝你…快樂 / 祝你…快乐 (zhù nǐ … Kuàilè).
Did you know?
- In traditional Chinese culture, the character 高 (gāo) in 高興 means 'high' and 興 (xīng) relates to 'rising'. Together they literally describe an 'elevated' spirit.
- The character 幸 (xìng) in 幸福 also appears in the word for 'luck' or 'fortune' (幸運), linking happiness to the idea of being lucky.
- If you say you are 'happy' using the wrong word, such as using 幸福 / 幸福 for a small joke, you might accidentally sound like you are making a very serious philosophical statement about your life.
Examples in context
- 她让我幸福。She makes me happy.This sentence shows how to express that someone brings one a sense of deep well-being using 幸福.Tatoeba #2029465 by ydcok, translation #314447 by CK
- 他看上去很幸福。He looks happy.This sentence uses 幸福 to describe how someone appears to be experiencing deep happiness.Tatoeba #8715867 by crescat, translation #1460417 by piksea
- 湯姆希望你幸福。Tom hopes you're happy.This sentence uses 幸福 to express a wish for someone's long-term happiness and well-being.Tatoeba #10040426 by verdastelo9604, translation #1177605 by CK
- 祝你快乐 (zhù nǐ kuài lè)I wish you happiness
- 43 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “happy” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
