喜ばしい

• Reading: よろこばしい
• Romaji: yorokobashii
• Kanji breakdown: 喜 (ki/yoroko) — joy, delight
• Pronunciation: /jo.ɾo.ko.ba.ɕiː/

Meaning

Delightful; joyful; auspicious. Describes something that warrants heartfelt celebration or is a cause for genuine rejoicing.

An i-adjective derived from 喜ぶ (to rejoice, to be glad). 喜ばしい is more formal and literary than simply うれしい — it is used to describe events or news that are inherently auspicious or worth celebrating publicly, such as a promotion, marriage, or national achievement. The classical form 喜ばしき appears in ceremonies and formal speeches. Note: the task lists 歓ばしい as an alternate kanji form; 喜ばしい is the far more common writing.

Examples

1. 同期の昇進は喜ばしいことであり、心から祝福の言葉を伝えた。 My colleague's promotion was a delightful occasion, and I offered my heartfelt congratulations.
2. 長年の研究がついに実を結んだのは、チーム全員にとって喜ばしい知らせだった。 The fact that years of research had finally borne fruit was joyful news for the entire team.
3. 式典の冒頭、来賓は本日の喜ばしい集いへの感謝を述べた。 At the opening of the ceremony, the guest of honor expressed gratitude for the auspicious gathering.

Usage Guide

Context: ceremonies, formal speeches, written congratulations, news

Tone: celebratory

Origin & History

Derived from the verb 喜ぶ (yorokobu — to be glad, to rejoice) with the adjectival suffix しい. 喜 (ki/yoroko) means 'joy, delight'. The kanji depicts a drum raised in celebration, an ancient symbol of communal rejoicing.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical to Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: General