喜笑颜开
喜笑颜开 (xǐ xiào yán kāi) literally means “happy smile, face opens up” and expresses “be beaming with joy”. 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: xi xiao yan kai, xi xiao yan kai,喜笑颜开 meaning, 喜笑颜开 in english
Be beaming with joy
Pronunciation: xǐ xiào yán kāi
Literal meaning: Happy smile, face opens up
Origin & Usage
This idiom describes being so happy (喜) that one smiles (笑) and the face (颜) opens up (开). It captures the physical transformation that genuine joy brings to facial expression. The phrase depicts pure happiness visible in one's countenance. Modern usage describes obvious happiness that shows clearly on someone's face, the kind of joy that cannot be hidden.
Examples
English: "The children's faces lit up when they saw the presents."
Chinese: 孩子们看到礼物时喜笑颜开。
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 喜笑颜开 mean in English?
喜笑颜开 (xǐ xiào yán kāi) literally translates to “Happy smile, face opens up” and is used to express “Be beaming with joy”. This Chinese idiom belongs to the Relationships & Character category.
When is 喜笑颜开 used?
Situation: This idiom applies when describing situations involving be beaming with joy.
What is the pinyin for 喜笑颜开?
The pinyin pronunciation for 喜笑颜开 is “xǐ xiào yán kāi”.