和颜悦色 (hé yán yuè sè) — with a kind and pleasant countenance; amiable manner

Definition

An idiom meaning 'with a kind, pleasant expression' — describes someone's warm, friendly demeanor in face and voice. Usually describes how a person treats others, especially in a position of authority.

idiom
with a kind and pleasant countenanceamiable manner

Examples

  • 和颜悦色，。
    Lǎo shī duì xué shēng men zǒng shì hé yán yuè sè, cóng bù fā huǒ.
    The teacher always has a kind and pleasant manner with the students and never loses their temper.
  • 和颜悦色，。
    Tā hé yán yuè sè dì gēn wǒ shuō huà, ràng wǒ gǎn dào hěn shū fu.
    He spoke to me with a pleasant countenance, which made me feel very comfortable.
  • 和颜悦色，。
    Nà wèi lǎo rén hé yán yuè sè, hái zi men dōu hěn xǐ huan tā.
    That elderly person has a kind and pleasant manner, and the children all like him very much.

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.

和颜gentle countenance
和hégentle颜yáncountenance
偏正Modifier + head
悦色pleased expression
悦yuèpleased色sèexpression
偏正Modifier + head

和颜 (gentle countenance) and 悦色 (pleased expression) stand in parallel, together describing an amiable manner.

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 →

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 顏; 颜 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yèhead
Sound part声符shēngfú
彥
彥yàn顏⁰yán
Same sound today

The traditional form 顏, not the simplified 颜, pairs 彥 as a sound part with 頁, a head, for face or countenance.

Open 颜 →

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
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
兌
兌duì悦yuè
Same sound today

The heart part 忄 shows the feeling of delight; 兌 gives the sound.

Open 悦 →

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

  • 爪爪zhuǎclaw; hand
  • 卩卩jiékneeling person

色 pairs 爪 (a hand) with 卩 (a kneeling person), showing a hand pressing down on the kneeling person.

Open 色 →

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