和乐 (hé lè) — harmonious and happy; in harmony and joy

Definition

Literary/formal adjective-like verb meaning 'harmonious and joyful' — describes a peaceful, happy atmosphere (family life, gatherings). More literary than the everyday 快乐.

verb
harmonious and happyin harmony and joy

Examples

  • ，和乐。
    Quán jiā rén zài yì qǐ, qì fen fēi cháng hé lè.
    The whole family is together, and the atmosphere is very harmonious and happy.
  • 和乐。
    Tā men guò zhe hé lè de shēng huó.
    They live a harmonious and happy life.
  • 和乐。
    Zhè cì jù huì dà jiā dōu hěn hé lè.
    Everyone was harmonious and happy at this gathering.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

和héharmonious
乐lèhappy

和 and 乐 join harmony and happiness, giving a peaceful joyful state.

Characters in this word

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
口口kǒumouth
Sound part声符shēngfú
禾
禾hé和hé
Same sound today

和 pairs 禾, which gives the sound, with 口 (mouth), the meaning part; the reference connects this shape to harmony.

Open 和 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 樂; 乐 is its simplified writing.

In the traditional form 樂, 絲 (string) with 木 (wood) shows strings on a piece of wood, a musical instrument; the simplified 乐 is a later shorthand.

Open 乐 →

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