Chinese Word for Happiness - The Differences of gaoxìng, kuàilè and xìngfú

高兴【gāoxìng=happy】is the least lasting or short time period of Chinese word for happiness and often used to express someone's feeling that is easy to receive the influence of external things, such as momentary mood and pleasant trees.

快乐【kuàilè=happy, happiness】is a quite extended lasting of Chinese word for happiness that is often used to wish people to be happy in special occasions and festivals. It's also used to express the quite extended happy feeling in a period of time and can be used for personality of someone.

幸福【xìngfú=happy】can also be translated as 'bless'. It likes a major Chinese word for happiness. It's used to express the long lasting happy feeling and often, in family life context.

The literal meaning of高兴【gāoxìng】is 'high excitement' in which高【gāo=high】and 兴【xìng= mood to do something, excitement】.

高兴【gāoxìng=happy】is the least lasting or short time period of Chinese word for happiness and often used to express someone's feeling that is easy to receive the influence of external things, such as momentary mood and pleasant trees.

Example 1:

I'm so happy to meet you.

我【wǒ=I】 很【hěn=very, quite, so】 高兴【gāoxìng=happy】 认识【rènshi=know】 你【nǐ=you】。

我 很 高兴 认识 你。

Or, the subject " 我【wǒ=I】" can be omitted:

很【hěn=very】 高兴【gāoxìng=happy】 认识【rènshi=know】 你【nǐ=you】。

很 高兴 认识 你。

Example 2:

Amy, are you happy to come to China?

艾美【àiměi=Amy】，来【lái=come】中国【Zhōngguó=China】高兴【gāoxìng】吗【ma】？

艾美，来 中国 高兴 吗？

Example 3:

I'm very happy to join in today's meeting.

我【wǒ=I】 很【hěn=very】 高兴【gāoxìng=happy】 来【lái=come】 参加【cānjiā=join】今天【jīntiān=today】 的【de】 会议【huìyì=meeting】。

我 很 高兴 来 参�今天 的 会议。

Example 4:

We are very happy to collaborate with you.

我们【wǒmén=we】很【hěn=very】高兴【gāoxìng】能够【nénggòu=can】和【hé=with】你们【nǐmén=you (second person plural)】一起【yīqǐ=together】合作【hézuò=work together, collaborate】。

我们 很 高兴 能够 和 你们 一起 合作。

Quite literally, 快乐【kuàilè】is the clauses to the English word 'happy' in which快【kuài= fast, happy】and 乐【lè=happy】.

a. 快乐【kuàilè】is often used to wish people to be happy in special occasions and festivals.

Example 1:

Merry Christmas

圣诞【shèngdàn=Christmas】快乐【kuàilè=happy】!

圣诞 快乐【kuàilè=happy】！

Example 2

Happy Thanksgiving Day

感恩节【gǎn'ēnjié= Thanksgiving day】快乐【kuàilè】！

感恩节 快乐！

b. 快乐【kuàilè】can be used for personality of someone.

Example:

Mary is a very happy person.

玛丽【Mali=Mary】是【shì=is】一【yī=a】个【gè=a measure word for persons】很【hěn=very】快乐【kuàilè=happy】的【de】人【rén=person】。

玛丽 是 一 个 很 快乐的人。

c. 快乐【kuàilè】is used to express quite extended happy feeling.

Example:

Tina is very happy with her job.

Literally means," Tina loves her job, she is very happy".

蒂娜【dìnuó=Tina】喜欢【xǐhuān=love】她的【tā de=her】工作【gōngzuò=job】，她【tā=she】很【hěn=very】快乐【kuàilè=happy】。

蒂娜 喜欢 她的 工作，她的 很 快乐。

d. 快乐【kuàilè】can also be used to express quite extended happy feeling in a period of time.

Example:

I was very happy in elementary school.

Literary means, "When I was in elementary school, I was very happy".

小学【xiǎoxué=elementary school】的【de】时候【shíhòu=when】我【wǒ=I】很【hěn=very】快乐【kuàilè=happy】。

小学 的 时候 我 很 快乐。

e. 快乐【kuàilè】can means 'happiness'.

Example:

Don’t build your happiness on the pain of others.

别【bié=don’t】把【bǎ】自己【zìjǐ=oneself, own】的【de】快乐【kuàilè=happiness】建筑【jiànzhù=build】在【zài=at】别人【biérén=other people】的【de】痛苦【tòngkǔ=pain】上【shàng=up】。

别 把 自己 的 快乐 建筑 在 别人 的 痛苦 上。

幸福【xìngfú=happy】can also be translated as 'bless'. 幸福【xìngfú=happy】likes a major Chinese word for happiness. It's used to express the long lasting happy feeling and often, in family life context.

Example 1:

Dear friends, wish your family happy.

Dear friends, wish your family blessing.

朋友们【péngyǒu men=friends】，祝【zhù=wish】 你们【nǐmen=you (second person plural)】 家庭【jiātíng=family】 幸福【xìngfú=happy, bless】!

朋友们，祝 你们 家庭 幸福！

Example 2:

You are really happy, I work overtime everyday.

You are really blessed, I work overtime everyday.

你【nǐ=you】 真【zhēn=really】 幸福【xìngfú=happy, bless】，我【wǒ=I】 天天【tiāntiān=every day】 加班【jiābān=work overtime】。

你 真 幸福，我 天天 加班。

Example 2:

I think that living here is so happy.

I think that living here is so blessed.

我【wǒ=I】 觉得【juéde=feel, think】在【zài=at】这里【zhelǐ=here】生活【shēnghuó=live】很【hěn=very】幸福【xìngfú=happy, bless】。

我 觉得 在 这里 生活 很 幸福。