喜 xǐ — to like, to be fond of; joy, delight; a happy event, especially a wedding

Pinyin

• xǐ (third tone, dipping)

to like, to be fond of; joy, delight; a happy event, especially a wedding

Character breakdown

• 壴meaning partno entry yetA drum standing on its base, with the ornament on top: the instrument of every celebration.
• 口meaning partA mouth: singing, laughing, or shouting along with the drum.

Mnemonic

A drum 壴 with a mouth 口 under it: drumming and singing together, which is what delight looked like. 喜欢 is the everyday verb "to like", 恭喜 is congratulations, and the doubled 囍 pasted on windows at a wedding is this same character written twice — "double happiness".

A memory aid written by HSK Guide editors. It is not an etymology and does not describe the historical origin of the character.

Words containing 喜

• 喜欢/喜歡xǐhuan (third tone, dipping)to like, to be fond of
• 惊喜/驚喜jīng (first tone, high and level) xǐ (third tone, dipping)nice surprise
• 恭喜gōng (first tone, high and level) xǐ (third tone, dipping)to congratulate
• 喜爱/喜愛xǐ (third tone, dipping) ài (fourth tone, falling)to like
• 喜剧/喜劇xǐ (third tone, dipping) jù (fourth tone, falling)comedy
• 喜悦/喜悅xǐ (third tone, dipping) yuè (fourth tone, falling)happy
• 喜好xǐ (third tone, dipping) hào (fourth tone, falling)to like
• 欣喜xīn (first tone, high and level) xǐ (third tone, dipping)happy
• 喜庆/喜慶xǐ (third tone, dipping) qìng (fourth tone, falling)jubilation
• 喜事xǐ (third tone, dipping) shì (fourth tone, falling)happy occasion
• 喜怒哀乐/喜怒哀樂xǐ (third tone, dipping) nù (fourth tone, falling) āi (first tone, high and level) lè (fourth tone, falling)four types of human emotions, namely: happiness 欢喜, anger 愤怒, sorrow 哀 and joy 快乐
• 喜出望外xǐ (third tone, dipping) chū (first tone, high and level) wàng (fourth tone, falling) wài (fourth tone, falling)to be pleased beyond one's expectations (idiom)
• 喜糖xǐ (third tone, dipping) táng (second tone, rising)sweet given on a happy occasion (esp. wedding)
• 喜洋洋xǐ (third tone, dipping) yáng (second tone, rising) yáng (second tone, rising)radiant with joy
• 喜酒xǐ (third tone, dipping) jiǔ (third tone, dipping)wedding feast
• 喜闻乐见/喜聞樂見xǐ (third tone, dipping) wén (second tone, rising) lè (fourth tone, falling) jiàn (fourth tone, falling)a delight to see (idiom); an attractive spectacle
• 讨人喜欢/討人喜歡tǎo (third tone, dipping) rén (second tone, rising) xǐ (third tone, dipping) huan (neutral tone)to attract people's affection

Radical 口 — other characters

• 口kǒu (third tone, dipping)mouth; an opening or entrance; measure word for members of a household
• 问/問wèn (fourth tone, falling)to ask, to inquire; to ask after, to send regards; to question, to interrogate
• 名míng (second tone, rising)name; given name; reputation, famous; measure word for people counted by rank or role
• 吃chī (first tone, high and level)to eat; to take (a meal, medicine); to absorb, to take in
• 喝hē (first tone, high and level) hè (fourth tone, falling)to drink; (hè) to shout loudly, to call out