幸福

• Reading: こうふく
• Romaji: koufuku
• Kanji breakdown: 幸 (kou/shiawa/saiwa) — happiness, fortune; 福 (fuku) — blessing, good luck
• Pronunciation: /koː.ɸɯ.kɯ/

Meaning

Happiness; well-being; joy; blessedness. A state of deep contentment and fulfilment.

A noun and na-adjective. Takes な before nouns (幸福な人生 = happy life). More formal and literary than 幸せ (shiawase), which is the everyday word for happiness. Often used in writing, speeches, and philosophical contexts. 幸福度 (koufukudo) means happiness index or level of happiness.

Examples

1. 幸福な人生を送りたいと誰もが思います。 Everyone wants to lead a happy life.
2. 家族の健康が一番の幸福です。 My family's health is my greatest happiness.
3. 幸福について考える時間も大切です。 It's also important to take time to think about happiness.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, philosophy, formal speech

Tone: positive

Origin & History

Compound of 幸 (kou, fortune/happiness) and 福 (fuku, blessing/good luck). Both kanji carry positive meanings — together they express a deep, complete state of happiness.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal