xǐ喜joynù怒angerāi哀sorrowlè乐happiness
joys, anger, sorrows, and pleasures; all feelings
Literal meaning
joy (喜) — anger (怒) — sorrow (哀) — happiness (乐)
Origin
A classical four-character phrase referring to the range of human emotions.
Examples
Rén人shēng生chōng充mǎn满le了xǐ喜nù怒āi哀lè乐。
Life is full of joys, anger, sorrows, and pleasures.
Tā他bǎ把xǐ喜nù怒āi哀lè乐dōu都xiě写zài在le了liǎn脸shàng上。
He shows all his emotions on his face.
Usage & nuances
Refers to the full spectrum of human emotions.
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