Meanings of 乐
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About 乐
Podcast: 乐
Podcast: 乐
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AI Study Notes for 乐
乐 (lè, happy) vs 开心 (kāixīn, happy) — use 乐 for a more general or musical context, while 开心 emphasizes a specific feeling of joy.
Imagine a person laughing joyfully while listening to their favorite music. The character 乐 resembles a person with a big smile, representing happiness, and the pronunciation 'lè' sounds like the 'let' in 'let's celebrate with music!'
Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 乐, as it can mean different things in different tones. In a formal context, it often refers to music, while in informal conversations, it emphasizes happiness. Common collocations include 快乐 (kuàilè, happy) and 音乐 (yīnyuè, music).
乐 is not included in the HSK levels, but it is a useful word for learners at the beginner level due to its emotional and musical meanings. Students should focus on its usage in context, especially in phrases expressing joy.
In Chinese culture, music is frequently associated with celebrations and festivals, making 乐 a significant term during events such as the Spring Festival, where music and happiness are central themes.
Learners often confuse 乐 with its other pronunciation yuè, especially when using it as a surname. For example, saying 'lè' when referring to music is correct, but using 'lè' for the surname should be avoided in formal contexts.
Pronunciation of 乐
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Etymology of 乐
Pictograph of an ancient wooden stringed musical instrument. The simplified character 乐 was adapted from the cursive form of the traditional character 樂. The traditional component 白 was removed for simplification.
Simplified form of 樂, a musical instrument with wood 木, strings 幺, and a pick 白
Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 乐
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Write 乐
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Practice writing 乐 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 乐
乐 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 7 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
她一边听音____，一边写作业。
She listens to music while doing homework.
Example Sentences for 乐 (10)
Cultural Notes for 乐
In Chinese culture, music is frequently associated with celebrations and festivals, making 乐 a significant term during events such as the Spring Festival, where music and happiness are central themes.
Word Family of 乐
Compound Meaning
What does 烁 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 乐
乐 is pronounced with a falling tone, like 'lè', which is different from its other pronunciation 'yuè' when used as a surname.