不亦乐乎

bù yì lè hū

HSK 3.0 Level 7 Rare

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Definitions

1. lit. isn't that a joy? (quote from Confucius)
2. fig. (jocular) extremely; awfully

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Word relationships

Related words

3 items

• 乐不可支 lè bù kě zhī 乐不可支 lè bù kě zhī overjoyed (idiom); as pleased as punch Extreme joy or delight: overjoyed (idiom); as pleased as punch
• 其乐融融 qí lè róng róng 其乐融融 qí lè róng róng (of relations) joyous and harmonious Harmonious and joyful atmosphere: (of relations) joyous and harmonious
• 欣喜若狂 xīn xǐ ruò kuáng 欣喜若狂 xīn xǐ ruò kuáng to be wild with joy (idiom) Wild with joy, similar to 'extremely' sense: to be wild with joy (idiom)

Usage notes

Common mistakes

Used in set phrase 忙得不亦乐乎 (extremely busy) or verb+得+不亦乐乎 to mean intensely; do not interpret literally as a question.

Cultural notes

From Analects: 有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎？(Isn't it a joy to have friends from afar?). Modern jocular usage departs from the original.

Example Sentences

1 shown

他们玩得 不亦乐乎 。

They had a fantastic time playing.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 不亦乐乎

• 不 不 bù: no; not so
• 亦 亦 yì: also
• 乐 乐 lè: happy
• 乐 乐 yuè: music
• 乎 乎 hū: (classical particle similar to 於|于[yú]) in