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兴高采烈 (xìng gāo cǎi liè) — in high spirits; elated and excited (idiom)

Definition

Idiom for an outward burst of excited happiness — energetic and animated, like a lively mood at a celebration. Unlike 喜出望外 (joy from an unexpected surprise), it describes general high spirits rather than a reaction to news.

phrase
in high spiritselated and excited (idiom)

Examples

  • ，兴高采烈。
    Tīng dào bǐ sài huò shèng de xiāo xi, tā xìng gāo cǎi liè dé xiàng gè xiǎo hái zi.
    Upon hearing the news of winning the competition, he was as elated as a child.
  • 兴高采烈，。
    Tóng xué men xìng gāo cǎi liè dì zǒu chū kǎo chǎng, qìng zhù kǎo shì jié shù.
    The classmates left the exam hall in high spirits, celebrating the end of the test.
  • ，兴高采烈，。
    Chūn jié lián huān huì shàng, dà jiā xìng gāo cǎi liè, qì fen fēi cháng rè nao.
    At the Spring Festival party, everyone was in high spirits and the atmosphere was very lively.

Origin

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 興; 兴 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 興 shows four hands lifting an object; the simplified 兴 is not the form described.

Open 兴 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

高 was drawn as a tall building.

Open 高 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 採; 采 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 采 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (采访, 采购) it is 採; in others it is 采.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
采
采cǎi採cǎi
Same sound today

The traditional form 採 combines 扌 (hand) with 采, which gives the sound and means to pick.

Open 采 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
灬Written in full as火huǒfire
Sound part声符shēngfú
列
列liè烈liè
Same sound today

烈 pairs 列 for the sound with 灬, a form of 火 (fire).

Open 烈 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Emotions & FeelingsIdioms & Set Phrases

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