A1 adjective Neutral #700 most common 1 min read

高兴

gāoxìng /kaʊ̯˥ɕiŋ˥˩/

Gao兴 is the essential word to express personal happiness and polite pleasure in Chinese.

Word in 30 Seconds

  • Expresses a state of happiness or joy.
  • Commonly used in social greetings and daily conversations.
  • Can be intensified with adverbs like 'very'.

Overview

  1. 1概述:‘高兴’是汉语中最基础且最常用的表示‘快乐’的词汇。它不仅可以描述个人的主观感受,还可以用来回应他人的邀请或结识新朋友时的客套话。2) 用法模式:作为形容词,它常放在‘很’、‘非常’、‘特别’等程度副词之后,例如‘很高兴’。在句法上,它既可以做谓语(如:我很高兴),也可以做定语(如:高兴的心情)。3) 常见语境:在日常生活中,当你听到好消息、见到久违的朋友或完成一项任务时,都可以用‘高兴’来表达。在正式场合,‘认识你很高兴’是标准的社交用语。4) 近义词辨析:与‘快乐’相比,‘高兴’侧重于某一具体事件引发的短暂心情;而‘快乐’通常指一种更持久、更深层的幸福感。‘开心’在口语中与‘高兴’几乎完全通用,但‘开心’显得更加随性、活泼。

Examples

1

我今天很高兴。

everyday

I am very happy today.

2

认识你很高兴。

formal

Nice to meet you.

Common Collocations

很高兴 very happy
感到高兴 feel happy

Common Phrases

真高兴

really happy

不高兴

unhappy

Often Confused With

高兴 vs 快乐

快乐 usually implies a more long-term state of joy or happiness, whereas 高兴 is more situational.

Grammar Patterns

Subj + 很 + 高兴 Subj + 为 + Obj + 感到高兴 听到 + Event + 我很高兴

How to Use It

Usage Notes

Use '高兴' for situational happiness. It is neutral in register, suitable for both casual and semi-formal settings. Always pair it with 'hen' when used as a predicate.


Common Mistakes

Beginners often forget the 'hen' before the adjective. Another common mistake is attempting to use '高兴' as a verb that takes a direct object.

Tips

💡

Use 'hen' with adjectives

In Chinese, adjectives like '高兴' usually need 'hen' (very) before them to sound natural in a sentence. For example, say '我很高兴' instead of just '我高兴'.

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Avoid direct object usage

Never use '高兴' as a transitive verb like 'I happy you'. Use '为...感到高兴' to express happiness about someone or something.

🌍

Politeness in greetings

Using '认识你很高兴' (Nice to meet you) is a standard and polite way to establish rapport in Chinese culture.

Word Origin

The character 高 means high, and 兴 refers to rising spirits or enthusiasm. Together, they describe a state where one's mood is elevated.

Cultural Context

Happiness in Chinese culture is often shared with others. Expressing '高兴' is a way to build social harmony.

Memory Tip

High (高) energy makes your heart (兴) happy. Think of being 'high' on joy!

Frequently Asked Questions

3 questions

这两个词在大多数情况下可以互换,意思非常接近。只是“开心”在口语中更常用,显得稍微轻松一点。

不可以。在中文里,“高兴”不能直接带宾语,必须说“我为你感到高兴”或者“听到这个消息我很高兴”。

可以在前面加上“非常”、“特别”或“太”,例如“我太高兴了”。

Test Yourself

fill blank

听到这个好消息,大家都___。

Correct! Not quite. Correct answer: 很高兴

形容词作谓语时通常需要程度副词修饰。

Score: /1

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