喜出望外
喜出望外 (xǐ chū wàng wài) literally means “joy exceeding expectations” and expresses “overjoyed; pleasantly surprised”. This idiom is used when describing situations involving life philosophy.
Also searched as: xi chu wang wai, xi chu wang wai,喜出望外 meaning, 喜出望外 in english
Overjoyed; pleasantly surprised
Pronunciation: xǐ chū wàng wài Literal meaning: Joy exceeding expectations
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes joy (喜) that goes beyond (出) one's expectations (望外). It captures the special quality of pleasant surprises that exceed what one hoped for or anticipated. The phrase appeared in Song Dynasty literature describing characters receiving unexpectedly good news. The emotional intensity it conveys goes beyond simple happiness to suggest delighted astonishment. Modern usage describes any situation where positive outcomes surpass expectations, from personal achievements to fortunate discoveries.
Examples
English: "She was overjoyed when she received the unexpected promotion."
Chinese: 收到意外的晋升通知，她喜出望外。
Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 喜出望外 mean in English?
喜出望外 (xǐ chū wàng wài) literally translates to “Joy exceeding expectations” and is used to express “Overjoyed; pleasantly surprised”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Life Philosophy category.
When is 喜出望外 used?
Situation: She was overjoyed when she received the unexpected promotion.
What is the pinyin for 喜出望外?
The pinyin pronunciation for 喜出望外 is “xǐ chū wàng wài”.
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