Meaning
喜悦
xǐ yuè
Joy
- 喜
- joy, happiness
- 悦
- delight
A warm word for heartfelt joy.
Joy in Chinese
The Chinese word for joy is 喜悦 (xǐ yuè). A warm word for heartfelt joy. In traditional characters it is written 喜悅.
喜悦
xǐ yuè
Joy
What 喜悦 means.
喜悦 is quiet, heartfelt joy. 喜 is the joy of celebrations: written twice as 囍, “double happiness”, it decorates every Chinese wedding. 乐 is a lighter, single-character choice.
- 喜
- joy, happiness
- 悦
- delight
Simplified and traditional
喜悦
喜悅
Both are correct and mean the same. Traditional 喜悅 keeps the older, fuller shape that calligraphy grew up with; simplified 喜悦 is what most Chinese readers use today. Our seal and clerical styles write it in the traditional form.
Pick the shade of meaning.
Chinese often has more than one word where English has one. Here is how they differ.
Meaning
乐
lè
Joy
- 乐
- joy, happiness
A single character for joy and happiness.
About joy in Chinese
How do you write joy in Chinese?
Joy is 喜悦 in Chinese, pronounced xǐ yuè. Joy 喜 means “joy, happiness”, 悦 means “delight”.
How do you pronounce 喜悦?
Say xǐ (third tone, dipping), yuè (fourth tone, falling). Mandarin tones change meaning, so it is worth listening to a native speaker once.
Is 喜悦 different in traditional Chinese?
Yes. The traditional form is 喜悅, used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and classical calligraphy; 喜悦 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore. Both are correct.
What other Chinese words mean joy?
乐 (lè): Joy A single character for joy and happiness.
Is 喜悦 a good Chinese tattoo?
Yes, it is a real, everyday Chinese word rather than a machine translation, so Chinese readers will understand it. Keep the characters in their order, top to bottom or left to right, and never mirrored. Choose a readable style such as Kaishu, bring a clean reference to your artist, and show it to a fluent reader before your appointment.