高兴

• Pinyin: gāo xìng
• Hanzi breakdown: 高 (high) + 兴 (excitement, interest) — high spirits, hence happy

Meaning

Happy; glad; pleased. Describes a state of happiness or delight.

The most standard word for 'happy' in Chinese. Used in greetings like 很高兴认识你 (nice to meet you). Can describe both momentary happiness and general mood. Slightly more formal than 开心 (cheerful), which is more casual and lighthearted.

Examples

1. 认识你很高兴。 Nice to meet you.
2. 他今天很高兴。 He is very happy today.
3. 听到这个消息我很高兴。 I'm very glad to hear this news.

Usage Guide

Context: greeting, emotion, everyday

Tone: warm

Do Say

• 很高兴认识你。(Nice to meet you.)
• 你看起来很高兴。(You look very happy.)

Don't Say

• 我高兴了这件事。(高兴 cannot take a direct object — say 我对这件事很高兴 or 这件事让我很高兴)

Origin & History

Compound of 高 (high) and 兴 (excitement, interest) — when spirits are high and excitement rises, one feels happy.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal