Happy hour
Meaning: A period, usually in the late afternoon, when bars and restaurants offer discounted drinks and appetizers.
Happy hour is a beloved American tradition, typically running from about 4 PM to 7 PM. It's when bars offer cheaper beer, wine, and cocktails, often with discounted appetizers. It's become a major social institution — 'Let's grab happy hour' means meeting up for after-work drinks.
Examples
- Want to grab happy hour after work? That new bar has half-price margaritas. 下班后去喝欢乐时光吧?那家新酒吧玛格丽塔半价。¿Quieres ir al happy hour después del trabajo? Ese bar nuevo tiene margaritas a mitad de precio.仕事の後にハッピーアワー行かない?あの新しいバー、マルガリータが半額だよ。퇴근 후에 해피아워 갈래? 새로 생긴 바에서 마가리타가 반값이래.
- Happy hour starts at 4 — we should get there early for the good seats. 欢乐时光4点开始——我们早点去占好位子。El happy hour empieza a las 4 — deberíamos llegar pronto para pillar buen sitio.ハッピーアワーは4時から——いい席を取るために早めに行こう。해피아워가 4시부터야——좋은 자리 잡으려면 일찍 가야 해.
- We spent three hours at happy hour and totally lost track of time. 我们在欢乐时光待了三个小时,完全忘了时间。Pasamos tres horas en el happy hour y perdimos totalmente la noción del tiempo.ハッピーアワーで3時間も過ごして、完全に時間を忘れちゃった。해피아워에서 3시간이나 보내다가 시간 가는 줄 완전히 몰랐어.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: after work, bars, socializing, restaurants
Tone: social, relaxed
✓ Do Say
- Let's hit happy hour.我们去赶欢乐时光吧。Vamos al happy hour.ハッピーアワーに行こうよ。해피아워 가자.
- Their happy hour specials are great.他们的欢乐时光特惠很不错。Las ofertas de su happy hour son geniales.あの店のハッピーアワーの特別メニューはすごくいいよ。거기 해피아워 스페셜이 진짜 좋아.
✗ Don't Say
- Note that some states (like Massachusetts) have banned happy hour drink specials — check local laws注意,有些州(如马萨诸塞州)已经禁止了欢乐时光的饮品优惠——请了解当地法律Ten en cuenta que en algunos estados (como Massachusetts) las ofertas de happy hour en bebidas están prohibidas — consulta la legislación local.一部の州(マサチューセッツなど)ではハッピーアワーの割引ドリンクが禁止されていることに注意——地元の法律を確認しよう일부 주(매사추세츠 등)에서는 해피아워 음료 할인이 법적으로 금지되어 있다——현지 법률을 확인할 것
Origin & History
Originally a US Navy term from the 1920s for scheduled entertainment periods. The bar/restaurant meaning emerged in the 1960s as a marketing strategy to draw in after-work crowds.
Cultural Context
Era: 1960s bar/restaurant sense
Generation: All ages (21+)
Social background: Universal
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