📖 Meaning
It describes someone so delighted that a smile spreads across their whole face. The phrase conveys overwhelming joy that visibly brightens one's expression. It is typically used to depict a person's happy and beaming countenance.
📜 Origin Story
The idiom comes from chapter seven of the Qing dynasty novel The Scholars (儒林外史) by Wu Jingzi (吴敬梓). In the story, an examination official reads a candidate's paper and, delighted by what he sees, breaks into a broad smile, and all his worries vanish. The original line reads: '学道看罢，不觉喜逐颜开，一天愁都没有了' (After reading it, the examiner unconsciously beamed with joy, and his worries of the day were gone).
💡 Example Usage
听到儿子考上大学的喜讯，她喜逐颜开。
Upon hearing the good news that her son had been admitted to university, her face lit up with joy.
🏷️ Category
➕ Similar Idioms
➖ Opposite Idioms
🔤 Quick Facts
- Chinese: 喜逐颜开
- Pinyin: xǐ zhú yán kāi
- Literal Translation: delight, follow, countenance, open
- Category: Emotion
- Characters: 4