Chinese word

高兴

Pronunciation

Pinyingāo xìng

Meaning

  • adjectivehappy

Example

我很高兴。wǒ hěn gāo xìng

I am very happy.

Illustration for 高兴 (happy)

More examples

很高兴认识你。hěn gāo xìng rèn shí nǐ

I am very happy to meet you.

Core concept

An inner lift that turns a person's mood toward pleasure and satisfaction.

Common phrases

  • 很高兴hěn gāo xìng

    very happy

  • 很高兴认识你hěn gāo xìng rèn shí nǐ

    very happy to meet you

  • 为你高兴wèi nǐ gāo xìng

    be happy for you

Similar words

开心kāi xīn: Feeling cheerful and enjoying oneself, often with a smile.
快乐kuài lè: Feeling happy, content, and at ease.

Definition in Chinese

感到高兴、快乐或满意，表示内心愉悦的情绪状态。gǎn dào gāo xìng kuài lè huò mǎn yì biǎo shì nèi xīn yú yuè de qíng xù zhuàng tài

Word origin

高 (gāo, "high") + 兴 (xìng, "spirit or excitement") form an image of spirits rising, which gives the word its sense of feeling happy and pleased.

Usage tips

  • Chinese often puts 很 (hěn, "very") before 高兴 (gāoxìng, "happy") in a plain statement, and 很 does not always add strong emphasis.

Other meanings

  • rejoiceverb
  • pleasantadjective

Opposites

Word lists with this word