大喜过望
大喜过望 (dà xǐ guò wàng) literally means “greatly pleased beyond expectation” and expresses “unexpected joy”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: da xi guo wang, da xi guo wang,大喜过望 meaning, 大喜过望 in english
Unexpected joy
Pronunciation: dà xǐ guò wàng Literal meaning: Greatly pleased beyond expectation
Origin & Usage
The idiom 大喜过望 (dà xǐ guò wàng) originates from the historical account in the 'Records of the Grand Historian' (《史记》) by Sima Qian. It tells the story of Ying Bu (黥布), a former general under Xiang Yu (项羽) during the Chu-Han Contention. After being demoted by Xiang Yu, Ying Bu was persuaded by Liu Bang's (刘邦) envoy to defect. Initially treated coldly by Liu Bang, Ying Bu was later surprised by the high level of hospitality and honor he received, far exceeding his expectations. This experience left him 'greatly pleased beyond expectation' (大喜过望). The characters 大 (dà) mean 'great,' 喜 (xǐ) means 'joy,' 过 (guò) means 'beyond,' and 望 (wàng) means 'expectation.' In modern usage, it describes a situation where the outcome is much better than anticipated, bringing immense joy.
Examples
English: "Winning the award was a joy that exceeded all my expectations."
Chinese: 获奖的喜悦大喜过望。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
一波三折
yī bō sān zhé
Many twists and turns
Learn more →
改邪归正
gǎi xié guī zhèng
Return to righteousness
Learn more →
好逸恶劳
hào yì wù láo
Love ease, hate work
Learn more →
物极必反
wù jí bì fǎn
Extremes lead to reversal
Learn more →
塞翁失马
sài wēng shī mǎ
Misfortune might be a blessing
Learn more →
近水楼台
jìn shuǐ lóu tái
Advantage from close connections
Learn more →
夜郎自大
yè láng zì dà
Overestimate oneself
Learn more →
因果报应
yīn guǒ bào yìng
Actions have consequences
Learn more →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 大喜过望 mean in English?
大喜过望 (dà xǐ guò wàng) literally translates to “Greatly pleased beyond expectation” and is used to express “Unexpected joy”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 大喜过望 used?
Situation: Winning the award was a joy that exceeded all my expectations.
What is the pinyin for 大喜过望?
The pinyin pronunciation for 大喜过望 is “dà xǐ guò wàng”.