four types of human emotions, namely: happiness 歡喜|欢喜[huan1 xi3], anger 憤怒|愤怒[fen4 nu4], sorrow 悲哀[bei1 ai1] and joy 快樂|快乐[kuai4 le4]
HSK 7, unknown, rank #33288, Very Hard
xǐnùāilè(xi3nu4ai1le4) T3
1four types of human emotions, namely: happiness 歡喜|欢喜[huan1 xi3], anger 憤怒|愤怒[fen4 nu4], sorrow 悲哀[bei1 ai1] and joy 快樂|快乐[kuai4 le4]
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
喜怒哀乐(喜怒哀樂)xǐnùāilè(xi3nu4ai1le4)
喜怒哀乐 (xǐ nù āi lè) refers to the four fundamental human emotions: happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy. This idiom encapsulates the full spectrum of emotional experiences people encounter in life, often used in discussions about emotional well-being or psychological states.
Frequency#33288DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the expression of emotions is often more subdued compared to Western cultures, where emotional displays can be more pronounced. 喜怒哀乐 reflects a holistic view of human experience and is often discussed in the context of maintaining balance in one's emotional life.
Memory Tip
Imagine a character named 'Xi' who experiences all four emotions in a single day: he starts with a big smile (喜), then frowns in anger (怒), feels a deep sadness (哀), and finally bursts out laughing (乐). The visual progression from one emotion to the next helps to remember the sequence of feelings.
Meanings of 喜怒哀乐
xǐnùāilè(xi3nu4ai1le4)
1four types of human emotions, namely: happiness 歡喜|欢喜[huan1 xi3], anger 憤怒|愤怒[fen4 nu4], sorrow 悲哀[bei1 ai1] and joy 快樂|快乐[kuai4 le4]
Exercise 1 of 3
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 喜怒哀乐
喜怒哀乐Simplified
喜怒哀樂Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 喜怒哀乐
Podcast: 喜怒哀乐
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 喜怒哀乐
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a character named 'Xi' who experiences all four emotions in a single day: he starts with a big smile (喜), then frowns in anger (怒), feels a deep sadness (哀), and finally bursts out laughing (乐). The visual progression from one emotion to the next helps to remember the sequence of feelings.
Usage Notes
When using 喜怒哀乐, it is common to refer to emotions in a general sense, but be careful not to confuse it with expressions of specific emotions. It is usually informal, so avoid using it in formal writing. Watch out for the tones: xi3 (3rd tone), nu4 (4th tone), ai1 (1st tone), le4 (4th tone).
HSK Study Tips
Although 喜怒哀乐 is not an HSK vocabulary term, understanding it can enhance your comprehension of emotional expressions in Mandarin. Students at HSK level 3 and above should focus on recognizing context where these emotions may arise in conversation.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the expression of emotions is often more subdued compared to Western cultures, where emotional displays can be more pronounced. 喜怒哀乐 reflects a holistic view of human experience and is often discussed in the context of maintaining balance in one's emotional life.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up the order of the emotions, saying '怒喜哀乐' instead of '喜怒哀乐'. Remembering the correct sequence will help convey the intended meaning accurately.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 喜怒哀乐
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 喜怒哀乐 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 喜怒哀乐 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Common Confusions with 喜怒哀乐
喜怒哀乐vs乐
lè
Different meanings despite similar pronunciation.
喜怒哀乐vs喜
xǐ
Both characters contain the radical 口 and are associated with emotions.
喜怒哀乐vs怒
nù
Similar in meaning but represent opposite emotional states.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "four types of human emotions, namely: happiness 歡喜|欢喜[huan1 xi3], anger 憤怒|愤怒[fen4 nu4], sorrow 悲哀[bei1 ai1] and joy 快樂|快乐[kuai4 le4]"?
or
Cultural Notes for 喜怒哀乐
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the expression of emotions is often more subdued compared to Western cultures, where emotional displays can be more pronounced. 喜怒哀乐 reflects a holistic view of human experience and is often discussed in the context of maintaining balance in one's emotional life.
Frequently Asked Questions about 喜怒哀乐
喜怒哀乐 encompasses four emotions: 喜 (xǐ) for happiness, 怒 (nù) for anger, 哀 (āi) for sorrow, and 乐 (lè) for joy. This idiom captures the essence of human emotional experiences.
You can express 喜怒哀乐 by using phrases that convey your feelings. For instance, to express happiness, you might say '我很快乐' (wǒ hěn kuài lè), meaning 'I am very happy.' Similarly, you can express sorrow or anger using their respective terms.
喜怒哀乐 (xǐ nù āi lè) refers to the four fundamental human emotions: happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy. Each character represents one of these emotions, highlighting the spectrum of feelings that people experience in life.
You can use 喜怒哀乐 to describe a person's emotional state or to discuss the nature of human feelings. For example, you might say: '生活中充满了喜怒哀乐', which means 'Life is filled with a variety of emotions.'
Yes, you can refer to specific situations by saying something like '在这个时候我体验了喜怒哀乐' (At this moment, I experienced all four emotions).
While there isn't a direct equivalent, you could compare it to the phrase 'the ups and downs of life'.
Practicing with mnemonics or creating a story around the emotions can help reinforce the correct tones.
