乐于助人
乐于助人 (lè yú zhù rén) literally means “happy to help people” and expresses “find genuine pleasure in helping others”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving relationships and character. It originates from ancient Chinese literature and remains commonly used in modern Mandarin.
Also searched as: le yu zhu ren, le yu zhu ren,乐于助人 meaning, 乐于助人 in english
Find genuine pleasure in helping others
Pronunciation: lè yú zhù rén Literal meaning: Happy to help people
Origin & Usage
This phrase originated from Confucian ethical teachings in the Analects compiled around 500 BCE. The concept appears in Confucius' discussions of different motivations for virtuous action, with internal happiness representing the highest form. During the Han Dynasty, it became central to official assessments of moral character. Finding joy (乐) in helping others (助人) had a particularly significant emotional emphasis—distinguishing assistance motivated by genuine pleasure from duty-bound reluctant help. Unlike terms simply meaning 'helpful,' it specifically celebrates the psychological enjoyment derived from assisting others rather than just the action itself. Modern usage spans character references to volunteer recruitment, describing the psychological orientation that transforms helping from obligation to pleasure, particularly valuing sustained helpfulness arising from genuine internal satisfaction rather than external recognition.
When to Use
Situation: The volunteer spent weekends helping elderly neighbors with home repairs
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about relationships & character
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 乐于助人 mean in English?
乐于助人 (lè yú zhù rén) literally translates to “Happy to help people” and is used to express “Find genuine pleasure in helping others”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 乐于助人 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving find genuine pleasure in helping others.
What is the pinyin for 乐于助人?
The pinyin pronunciation for 乐于助人 is “lè yú zhù rén”.