乐趣 (lè qù) — pleasure, joy, delight

Definition

乐趣 is the pleasure or delight you get FROM an activity or experience, often something you discover (e.g. in music, study). 娱乐 is entertainment or amusement you seek out; 趣味 is more about interesting flavor or taste.

noun
pleasurejoydelight

Examples

  • 乐趣。
    Tā cóng yīn yuè zhōng zhǎo dào le hěn duō lè qù.
    He found a lot of joy in music.
  • 乐趣。
    Hé jiā rén yì qǐ chī fàn shì zuì dà de lè qù.
    Eating with family is the greatest pleasure.
  • 乐趣。
    Xué xí xīn dōng xī néng dài lái wú qióng de lè qù.
    Learning new things can bring endless joy.

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.

乐lèpleasure
趣qùinterest

乐 and 趣 are parallel ideas of pleasure and interest, together forming delight.

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 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 →

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
走走zǒuwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
取
取qǔ趣qù
Same sound today

趣 has 走, showing walking or hurrying, and 取, which gives the sound; the shape points to moving toward something.

Open 趣 →

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