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Strokes of genius - 喜
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The oracle bone script of “喜 xǐ” consists of an ancient Chinese drum on top and a mouth wide open at the bottom, describing people drumming, singing and laughing. What a jolly occasion!
That’s why, first of all, “喜 xǐ” means “happy, delighted, pleased.” Just as in the title of a popular Chinese animated TV series “喜羊羊和灰太狼 Xǐyángyáng hé Huītàiláng” (Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf), the nickname of the cute lamb is a homophone for “喜洋洋Xǐyángyáng,” which means “jubilant.” Of course, “喜 xǐ” for “happy” also occurs in other idioms like:
欢天喜地过新年! Huāntiānxǐdì guò xīnnián!
Celebrating the New Year in rapture!
喜怒无常的老板最麻烦。 Xǐnùwúcháng de lǎobǎn zuì máfan.
Those moody bosses are most annoying.
Secondly, “喜 xǐ” can further mean “happy event” exactly like in the word “喜事xǐshì.” More examples are below:
喜酒 xǐjiǔ wedding feast
喜糖 xǐtáng wedding sweets/candy
喜剧 xǐjù comedy
While“有喜了 yǒu xǐ le,” translated as “have a happy event” word for word, is actually a common euphemism for “have become pregnant.”
Last but not least, “喜 xǐ” as in “喜欢xǐhuan” has another basic meaning, “to like.” For instance:
他是个喜新厌旧的花花公子。Tā shì ge xǐxīnyànjiù de huāhuāgōngzǐ
He’s a playboy who is fond of the new and tired of the old.
这是我们喜闻乐见的好政策。 Zhè shì wǒmen xǐwénlèjiàn de hǎo zhèngcè.
This is a good policy we love to see and hear.
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