喜出望外

발음: xǐ chū wàng wài 문자 그대로의 의미: Joy exceeding expectations

기원과 용법

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.

예문

영어: "She was overjoyed when she received the unexpected promotion."

중국어: 收到意外的晋升通知，她喜出望外。