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March 24, 2026
开心(開心)kāixīn(kai1xin1)
开心 (kāi xīn) means 'to feel happy' or 'to rejoice.' It is commonly used to express joy or satisfaction, often in informal settings. This word can also imply having a great time, making it suitable for various contexts, from personal happiness to social enjoyment.
Strokes8Frequency#545DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, expressing happiness is often communal; for example, during festivals or family gatherings, sharing moments of 开心 is seen as a vital part of the celebration. It reflects the importance of community in personal joy.
Memory Tip
Imagine a big, bright smile (开心) that opens wide like a door (开), letting in the warm sunshine of happiness (心). The character 开 represents 'open' and 心 signifies 'heart,' together suggesting that when your heart is open, you feel joy.
Meanings of 开心
kāixīn(kai1xin1)
1to feel happy
2to rejoice
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About 开心
开心Simplified
開心Traditional
8Strokes
—Radical
形容词xíngróngcíadjective (adj.)Part of Speech
#545Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L4HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 开心
Podcast: 开心
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AI Study Notes for 开心
Quick Contrast
快乐 (kuàilè) vs 开心 (kāixīn): 选择开心 (kāixīn) 更强调一种轻松、愉快的情绪，而快乐 (kuàilè) 更为正式，通常指一种持久的幸福感。
Usage Notes
Be aware that 开心 is more informal and is typically used in casual conversations. Some learners mistakenly use it in overly formal contexts; in such cases, consider using 愉快 (yú kuài) instead. The phrase '开心吗?' is a common way to ask someone if they are happy.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 开心 connects well with other words expressing emotions, such as 高兴 (gāo xìng) meaning 'happy' or 'glad.' Focus on practicing its usage in sentences to convey varying degrees of happiness.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 开心 with 伤心 (shāng xīn), which means 'sad.' For example, saying '我今天很伤心' instead of '我今天很开心' would be a mistake if intending to express happiness.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 开心
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开心 (kāi xīn) means 'to feel happy' or 'to rejoice.' It is commonly used to express joy or satisfaction, often in informal settings. This word can also imply having a great time, making it suitable for various contexts, from personal happiness to social enjoyment.
When to use 开心
Be aware that 开心 is more informal and is typically used in casual conversations. Some learners mistakenly use it in overly formal contexts; in such cases, consider using 愉快 (yú kuài) instead. The phrase '开心吗?' is a common way to ask someone if they are happy.
开心 or something close to it
快乐 (kuàilè) vs 开心 (kāixīn): 选择开心 (kāixīn) 更强调一种轻松、愉快的情绪，而快乐 (kuàilè) 更为正式，通常指一种持久的幸福感。
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 开心 with 伤心 (shāng xīn), which means 'sad.' For example, saying '我今天很伤心' instead of '我今天很开心' would be a mistake if intending to express happiness.
Write 开心
开
心
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Grammar Patterns of 开心
开心 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
