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
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.
When to Use
Situation: She was overjoyed when she received the unexpected promotion.
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Related Chinese Idioms
Similar idioms about life philosophy
千里迢迢
qiān lǐ tiáo tiáo
Travel a great distance
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民富国强
mín fù guó qiáng
Prosperous people and powerful nation
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国泰民安
guó tài mín ān
National peace and public security
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太平盛世
tài píng shèng shì
Golden age of peace and prosperity
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四海升平
sì hǎi shēng píng
Peace everywhere; universal harmony
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安土重迁
ān tǔ zhòng qiān
Prefer stability; reluctant to relocate
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故土难离
gù tǔ nán lí
Hard to leave one's homeland
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落叶归根
luò yè guī gēn
Return to one's roots; go back home
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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 theLife 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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