TongTong
Sign in

可喜 (kě xǐ) — gratifying; heartening

Definition

A formal written adjective used to describe developments or results that are encouraging and worth celebrating — stronger than just 'good news', it carries a sense of positive progress.

adjective
gratifyingheartening

Examples

  • 可喜。
    Jīn nián wǒ men qǔ dé le kě xǐ de jìn bù.
    We have made gratifying progress this year.
  • 可喜。
    Zhè ge xiàng mù dài lái le kě xǐ de jīng jì xiào yì.
    This project has brought heartening economic benefits.
  • ，可喜。
    Kàn dào hái zi men jiàn kāng chéng zhǎng, zhēn shì kě xǐ de shì.
    Seeing the children grow up healthy is truly a gratifying thing.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
前缀qiánzhuìPrefix

A fixed syllable in front that adds a shade of meaning but carries none of its own.

可kěworthy of
喜xǐjoy

可 gives the sense of 'worthy of' to 喜, so the word means gratifying or heartening.

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kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
丂
丂kǎo可kě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

可 pairs 口 (mouth) with 丂 as a sound part; it is tied to air from the mouth, perhaps singing.

Open 可 →

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

喜 combines 壴, a drum, with 口, a mouth.

Open 喜 →
Appears in
Good & Bad

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.