快乐

• Pinyin: kuài lè
• Hanzi breakdown: 快 (kuài) — fast, happy; 乐 (lè) — joy, pleasure

Meaning

Happy; joyful. A state of feeling pleased and content.

Often used in greetings and well-wishes, such as 生日快乐 (happy birthday) and 新年快乐 (happy new year). More formal and literary than 开心, often used in written language and set phrases.

Examples

1. 祝你生日快乐！ Happy birthday to you!
2. 他每天都很快乐。 He is happy every day.
3. 快乐是最重要的事。 Happiness is the most important thing.

Usage Guide

Context: celebrations, greetings, well-wishes

Tone: warm

Do Say

• 新年快乐！(Happy New Year!)
• 做自己喜欢的事很快乐。(Doing what you love brings happiness.)

Don't Say

• 不要说'快乐吗？'来随便问别人心情 (Don't casually ask 你快乐吗 — use 你开心吗 or 你高兴吗 in daily conversation)

Origin & History

Compound of 快 (fast, happy) and 乐 (joy, pleasure). 快 originally meant 'pleased' before its primary meaning shifted to 'fast.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal