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喜怒哀乐 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
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English
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喜怒哀乐
xǐnùāilè
four types of human emotions, namely: happiness 歡喜|欢喜[huan1 xi3], anger 憤怒|愤怒[fen4 nu4], sorrow 悲哀[bei1 ai1] and joy 快樂|快乐[kuai4 le4]
HSK 7, unknown, 35 strokes, rank #33288, Very Hard
xǐnùāilè(xi3nu4ai1le4)xi nu ai le T3
1four types of human emotions, namely: happiness 歡喜|欢喜[huan1 xi3], anger 憤怒|愤怒[fen4 nu4], sorrow 悲哀[bei1 ai1] and joy 快樂|快乐[kuai4 le4]
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March 24, 2026
喜怒哀乐(喜怒哀樂)xǐnùāilè(xi3nu4ai1le4)
喜怒哀乐 (xǐ nù āi lè) refers to the four fundamental human emotions: happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy. This idiom encapsulates the full spectrum of emotional experiences people encounter in life, often used in discussions about emotional well-being or psychological states.
Strokes35Frequency#33288DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the expression of emotions is often more subdued compared to Western cultures, where emotional displays can be more pronounced. 喜怒哀乐 reflects a holistic view of human experience and is often discussed in the context of maintaining balance in one's emotional life.
Memory tip
Imagine a character named 'Xi' who experiences all four emotions in a single day: he starts with a big smile (喜), then frowns in anger (怒), feels a deep sadness (哀), and finally bursts out laughing (乐). The visual progression from one emotion to the next helps to remember the sequence of feelings.
Meanings of 喜怒哀乐
xǐnùāilè(xi3nu4ai1le4)
1four types of human emotions, namely: happiness 歡喜|欢喜[huan1 xi3], anger 憤怒|愤怒[fen4 nu4], sorrow 悲哀[bei1 ai1] and joy 快樂|快乐[kuai4 le4]
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About 喜怒哀乐
喜怒哀乐Simplified
喜怒哀樂Traditional
35Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
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Podcast: 喜怒哀乐
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AI study notes for 喜怒哀乐
Usage Notes
When using 喜怒哀乐, it is common to refer to emotions in a general sense, but be careful not to confuse it with expressions of specific emotions. It is usually informal, so avoid using it in formal writing. Watch out for the tones: xi3 (3rd tone), nu4 (4th tone), ai1 (1st tone), le4 (4th tone).
HSK Study Tips
Although 喜怒哀乐 is not an HSK vocabulary term, understanding it can enhance your comprehension of emotional expressions in Mandarin. Students at HSK level 3 and above should focus on recognizing context where these emotions may arise in conversation.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up the order of the emotions, saying '怒喜哀乐' instead of '喜怒哀乐'. Remembering the correct sequence will help convey the intended meaning accurately.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 喜怒哀乐
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How to say four types of human emotions, namely: happiness 歡喜|欢喜[huan1 xi3], anger 憤怒|愤怒[fen4 nu4], sorrow 悲哀[bei1 ai1] and joy 快樂|快乐[kuai4 le4] in Chinese
“four types of human emotions, namely: happiness 歡喜|欢喜[huan1 xi3], anger 憤怒|愤怒[fen4 nu4], sorrow 悲哀[bei1 ai1] and joy 快樂|快乐[kuai4 le4]” in Chinese is喜怒哀乐xǐnùāilè
喜怒哀乐 (xǐ nù āi lè) refers to the four fundamental human emotions: happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy. This idiom encapsulates the full spectrum of emotional experiences people encounter in life, often used in discussions about emotional well-being or psychological states.
When to use 喜怒哀乐
When using 喜怒哀乐, it is common to refer to emotions in a general sense, but be careful not to confuse it with expressions of specific emotions. It is usually informal, so avoid using it in formal writing. Watch out for the tones: xi3 (3rd tone), nu4 (4th tone), ai1 (1st tone), le4 (4th tone).
What learners get wrong
Learners often mix up the order of the emotions, saying '怒喜哀乐' instead of '喜怒哀乐'. Remembering the correct sequence will help convey the intended meaning accurately.
Write 喜怒哀乐
喜
怒
哀
乐
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Common confusions with 喜怒哀乐
喜怒哀乐vs乐
lè
Different meanings despite similar pronunciation.
喜怒哀乐vs喜
xǐ
Both characters contain the radical 口 and are associated with emotions.
喜怒哀乐vs怒
nù
Similar in meaning but represent opposite emotional states.
Exercise 1 of 1
Which one
Which one means “four types of human emotions, namely: happiness 歡喜|欢喜[huan1 xi3], anger 憤怒|愤怒[fen4 nu4], sorrow 悲哀[bei1 ai1] and joy 快樂|快乐[kuai4 le4]”?
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Frequently asked questions about 喜怒哀乐
喜怒哀乐 encompasses four emotions: 喜 (xǐ) for happiness, 怒 (nù) for anger, 哀 (āi) for sorrow, and 乐 (lè) for joy. This idiom captures the essence of human emotional experiences.
You can express 喜怒哀乐 by using phrases that convey your feelings. For instance, to express happiness, you might say '我很快乐' (wǒ hěn kuài lè), meaning 'I am very happy.' Similarly, you can express sorrow or anger using their respective terms.
喜怒哀乐 (xǐ nù āi lè) refers to the four fundamental human emotions: happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy. Each character represents one of these emotions, highlighting the spectrum of feelings that people experience in life.
You can use 喜怒哀乐 to describe a person's emotional state or to discuss the nature of human feelings. For example, you might say: '生活中充满了喜怒哀乐', which means 'Life is filled with a variety of emotions.'
Yes, you can refer to specific situations by saying something like '在这个时候我体验了喜怒哀乐' (At this moment, I experienced all four emotions).
While there isn't a direct equivalent, you could compare it to the phrase 'the ups and downs of life'.
Practicing with mnemonics or creating a story around the emotions can help reinforce the correct tones.
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