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喜出望外

xǐ chū wàng wài
HSK 3.0 Level 7 Rare

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Definitions

  1. 1. to be pleased beyond one's expectations (idiom)
  2. 2. overjoyed at the turn of events

Usage notes

Common mistakes

This idiom is often misused to describe any happiness, but it specifically refers to unexpected joy. Avoid using it for expected positive outcomes.

Formality

This is a formal idiom, suitable for written Chinese or polite speech, not for casual conversation.

Example Sentences

1 shown
听到这个好消息,他 喜出望外
He was overjoyed when he heard the good news.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.