gou1 hing3高興高兴

Jyutpinggou1 hing3

Yalegōu hing

形容詞Common

Definition

Happy, glad, or pleased about something or someone.

neutralemotion

How it's used

While 高興 is perfectly understandable in Cantonese, it is often perceived as slightly more formal or literary compared to everyday alternatives. In casual speech, native speakers frequently prefer using 開心 to express the same feeling of happiness. Using 高興 can sometimes sound like you are reading from a script or speaking in a more structured, polite setting.

Examples

gin3見dou2到nei5你gam3咁sing4成gung1功，ngo5我zan1真hai6係hou2好gou1高hing3興。

I am really happy to see you so successful.

nei5你gam1今jat6日hou2好ci5似dak6特bit6別gou1高hing3興，faat3發sang1生me1咩si6事aa4呀？

You seem especially happy today, what happened?

Common phrases

dang6戥jan4人gou1高hing3興

to be happy for someone

gou1高gou1高hing3興hing3興

happily

Common mistake

Learners often overuse 高興 in casual settings where 開心 would sound much more natural. Additionally, avoid using it to describe a state of being 'excited' or 'thrilled', as it specifically refers to a sense of satisfaction or contentment rather than high energy.