禧

xǐ

喜 + 礻

Definitions

xǐ joy

Etymology

Celebrating 喜 good fortune 礻; 喜 also provides the pronunciation

About

The character 禧 is a phono-semantic compound: the left-side radical 礻 represents a ceremonial altar, spirit, or worship, while the right-side component 喜 means joy or happiness and supplies the pronunciation. Because of the altar, 禧 is associated with religious rites, divine blessings, and auspicious events that merit gratitude. The character therefore denotes a celebratory, blessed joy that surpasses everyday happiness, instead conveying a sense of auspiciousness, jubilation, and good fortune associated with momentous occasions like grand celebrations or a prosperous new beginning. In this way, 禧 fuses celebration and sacred worship, and is used exclusively in formal expressions of good luck and ceremonial greetings, not for everyday happiness.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

新年恭贺新禧。

Xīnnián gōnghè xīnxǐ.

New Year brings congratulations and new happiness.

禧年是个好年份。

Xǐnián shì gè hǎo niánfèn.

A jubilee year is a good year.

千禧年庆祝活动很盛大。

Qiānxǐnián qìngzhù huódòng hěn shèngdà.

The millennium celebration activities were very grand.

恭贺新禧是中国的传统。

Gōnghè xīnxǐ shì Zhōngguó de chuántǒng.

Congratulating on the new happiness is a Chinese tradition.

在这个禧年里，我们充满希望。

Zài zhège xǐnián lǐ, wǒmen chōngmǎn xīwàng.

In this jubilee year, we are filled with hope.

禧乐的氛围让节日更愉快。

Xǐlè de fēnwéi ràng jiérì gèng yúkuài.

The auspicious and joyful atmosphere makes the festival more pleasant.

尽管经济不佳，但禧年仍带来欢乐。

Jǐnguǎn jīngjì bù jiā, dàn xǐnián réng dàilái huānlè.

Although the economy is not good, the jubilee year still brings joy.

千禧年之际，全球人们共同庆祝这一历史性时刻。

Qiānxǐnián zhī jì, quánqiú rénmen gòngtóng qìngzhù zhè yī lìshǐxìng shíkè.

At the time of the millennium, people around the world jointly celebrated this historic moment.

Related Characters

Component: 喜

Component: 礻

禧