何乐不为 (hé lè bù wéi) — why not (do it gladly)?; there is no reason not to

Definition

A set phrase meaning 'why not do it gladly' — used to enthusiastically endorse a proposal that benefits the speaker. It implies the action is both pleasant and advantageous.

idiom
why not (do it gladly)?there is no reason not to

Examples

  • ，何乐不为？
    Zhè me hǎo de jī huì, hé lè bù wéi?
    Such a good opportunity — why not take it gladly?
  • ，何乐不为！
    Jì néng duàn liàn shēn tǐ yòu néng jiāo péng you, hé lè bù wéi!
    It both exercises the body and makes friends — why not do it gladly!
  • ，，何乐不为。
    Lǚ yóu kě yǐ fàng sōng xīn qíng, nǐ rú guǒ xiǎng qù, hé lè bù wéi.
    Traveling can relax your mind; if you want to go, why not gladly do it.

Origin

Characters in this word

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

The old form of 何 drew a person carrying something on their shoulder. If the carried thing was a 戈, the 人 and 戈 parts together showed that picture.

Open 何 →

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 →

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

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 為; 为 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 為 showed a hand holding an elephant; the simplified 为 is a later shorthand.

Open 为 →

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