📖 Meaning
This idiom describes something that people love to hear and see, referring to things that are widely popular and well-received by the masses. It is often used to describe cultural works, policies, or activities that resonate with and delight the general public.
📜 Origin Story
The phrase originates from the way classical Chinese thinkers discussed what kinds of things please common people. While it does not trace to a single specific historical anecdote, it gained widespread usage through Mao Zedong's 1942 Talks at the Yan'an Forum on Literature and Art, where he emphasized that art and literature should be of the '喜闻乐见' variety — things the masses love to hear and gladly see — to truly serve the people. The idiom itself builds on classical Chinese patterns of parallel structure combining sensory verbs with emotion adjectives.
💡 Example Usage
这部电影拍得通俗易懂，是老百姓喜闻乐见的好作品。
This film was made in an accessible style and is a great work that ordinary people love to watch.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 喜闻乐见
- Pinyin: xǐ wén lè jiàn
- Literal Translation: happy to hear, glad to see
- Category: Attitude
- Characters: 4